Almost Disney immerses participants in a shimmering sea of 270 gold mylar balloons, inviting them into a playful yet restrained experience of wonder. Created for TEDxYouth and funded by the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, the installation surrounds visitors with gold at waist height, encouraging free movement within the space. Projection mapping and motion-triggered audio add a layer of interactivity, enhancing the sensory immersion.

The title, Almost Disney, hints at a critique of excitement that’s enticing but purposefully falls short of the grandeur and spectacle Disney provides. While the installation recalls Disney’s magic, it offers only a glimmer of that experience, urging viewers to reflect on the allure of such branded fantasy and to question what it means to pursue wonder in an age dominated by commercialized enchantment.