Glenn Birket

Glenn Birket has contributed to some of the industry’s most influential projects, and today remains at the top of his field. Glenn’s work is the subject of the David Green/Steve Alcorn book, Building A Better Mouse.

He started out as captain of the Nautilus at Walt Disney World’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Graduating cum laude as an Electrical Engineer from University of Central Florida, he joined WED Enterprises (later Walt Disney Imagineering – WDI) for the creation of Epcot. Glenn progressed to electronic engineering ride control section Group Leader, responsible for all control systems at Epcot’s American Adventure Pavilion - then Disney’s most complex implementation of hydraulics, pneumatics, drive systems, show action equipment, stage machinery, animatronics, projection, and theatrical equipment.

In 1984 Glenn founded Birket Engineering (BE), which has provided control systems for every Disney and Universal Studios park since Epcot. In 1987, Glenn was contracted to design, build and commission the ride control system for Maelstrom in Epcot’s Norway Pavilion. Glenn went on to design and implement show control systems for Disney Hollywood Studios’ Epic Stunt Show and Superstar Theater opening attractions. Later Glenn would design and build Universal Studios Florida’s JAWS and Earthquake ride control systems and implement Universal Studios Hollywood’s Riot Act Stunt Show show control software.

1990s: BE designed and commissioned the world’s first and second linear induction motor-launched roller-coasters. 2010-present: BE commissioned 12 attractions at Resorts World Sentosa/Universal Studios Singapore, completed show control design for two Hong Kong Disneyland attractions, commissioned four mainland China rollercoasters, provided design services for 17 Shanghai Disneyland attractions and now holds 23 control systems contracts for upcoming major attractions in China. Glenn has pioneered changes to improve pyrotechnic controls systems safety, and serves on the NFPA Technical Committee for Special Effects.

Today, BE has grown into a company of 100+ employees with offices in Orlando, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and Glenn is a sought-after authority on entertainment control systems, and China’s themed entertainment business.