Unlock your creative flow with the Disney Frame

Bring clarity, compassion and ease to your creating

What is the Disney Frame?

When you feel inspired and moved to create - whether it is art, or a process, or any kind of change, there’s nothing more frustrating than having that initial spark immediately crushed by an inner (or outer!) voice saying “That won’t work.”

This issue shows up in different ways, both internally and externally…

You come up with great ideas, but start criticising them before they are even fully formed by thinking of all of the problems and challenges and/or opinions they might generate.
You start a project and get blocked when you’re trying to create because you have an inner critic or editor on your shoulder the entire time giving their opinions.
You share a secret hope or big idea with someone, and they jump straight to a negative judgement, questioning the value of it, or your ability to see it through, or the viability of it.

These things happen ALL the time, in all areas of life. Very often they are internal battles we face, but we will also often see them play out in the world, with other people.

Enter the Disney Frame - a supremely practical and beautifully magical tool for approaching creation.

Inspired by Walt Disney’s own learnings about the best way to enable a flowing creative process, the frame essentially breaks creative thinking into three distinct roles, and a process for approaching when and how to use them. These are the roles:

The Dreamer: This is the part of you that imagines limitless possibilities. When you’re in Dreamer mode, there are no bad ideas - just excitement, exploration, and vision.

The Realist: Here’s where ideas start taking shape. The Realist figures out how to make things happen, considering logistics, resources, and timelines.

The Critic: Once there’s a plan, the Critic steps in to refine, challenge, and perfect. This role helps you spot weaknesses, tighten up your ideas, and ensure everything is the best it can be.

When used consciously, the Disney Frame allows all of the roles - all parts of your creative self - to work together smoothly rather than pulling in different directions.

The key roles explained

The Dreamer

Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” The Dreamer is the visionary part of us that sees endless possibilities and explores new horizons. In this role, there are no limits—only imagination. The Dreamer dares to ask, What if? and visualises futures full of potential.

Key questions to explore as the Dreamer:

What excites and inspires you about this project?
If you had a magic wand and no limitations, what would you create?
How would it look, feel, and impact others?
What’s the most ambitious outcome you can imagine?

Example: Imagine you’re planning a community event. As the Dreamer, allow yourself to think big: What would make this event unforgettable? Is there a way to incorporate something surprising or magical that attendees will talk about for years?

The Realist

Disney wasn’t just a dreamer; he was also a doer who believed in bringing ideas to life through hard work and detailed planning. The Realist takes wild dreams and turns them into actionable plans. The Realist grounds the Dreamer's visions in reality, creating a clear path to follow.

Key questions to consider as the Realist:

What resources—time, money, people—do you need?
What’s your plan? What are the concrete steps?
What challenges might you face, and how can you overcome them?
How will you measure success?

Example: For that same community event, the Realist would map out a timeline, budget, and a list of tasks. Who needs to be involved? What’s your marketing plan? The Realist ensures every detail is accounted for, and that the overall project is viable.

The Critic

The Critic is your quality controller, always on the lookout for what can be improved. In Disney’s world, the Critic role was about refining every detail until it was just right. This role helps you pause, reflect, and refine your work, ensuring it’s the best it can be.

Key questions to ask as the Critic:

What’s working well, and what isn’t?
How can this be improved? What details need refining?
How does this look from the perspective of your audience or client?
Is this the best possible version?

Example: Before the event goes live, the Critic reviews everything. Does the event make sense? Are the marketing materials compelling? Is the schedule efficient? The Critic helps polish the final product, making sure it’s truly exceptional.

Giving each role its own dedicated space and time

Walt Disney found that keeping each of the roles separate and giving them their own space and time with the project was critical for the creation of flow.

He let the dreamers spend a few days in a room eating grapes and imagining amazing things. No realists or critics allowed in to burst the bubbles. The dreamer can vision in peace and then hand off the vision to the realist who has a few days hunkered down working out how to make this vision real. Working up budgets, creating a viable plan with a timeline etc. The Critic is handed the project and prods and pokes from different angles. Does the project make sense? Does it resemble the original idea? What needs to be challenged and what needs to be honed? Then the project is passed back to the dreamer to look at and feel into, and the process goes round again.

So now you begin to see - if critics and / or realists are present when we are trying to create, either in our minds or in a meeting, they can all too easily distract, dishearten and burst the dreamers bubble, because it is not fully formed yet. The realist is looking for answers to practical questions, and the critic is looking to refine things - when the idea is not yet built. It’s like trying to clothe a baby and check the fit while it’s still in the womb!

Understanding the importance of each role in the process

There is a reason for each role in the process. Imagine skipping the Realist phase entirely, leading to big ideas with no plan. Or the rushed release of a lower-than-necessary quality product, because the realist had pushed to save money and skip the Critic (testing) phase. (If you have ever watched The Apprentice - you will see endless examples of these dynamics at play).

Respecting each role

Understanding the value of the other roles can be challenging because each role has a very specific perspective and a tendency to think that their part of the process is the most important. And of course to them - it is! It is the place where they might be getting to feel fulfillment and passion, or satisfaction in their competence and skills.

Fostering understanding and respect between roles is vital for flow. Collaboration rather than competition leads to better quality outcomes.

Preferred roles

Of course, we all have some degree of ability to perform in each of the roles, but it can be useful to explore our preferences and also the circumstances under which we ended up in the roles we are performing.

Some of us perform roles that allow us to explore a natural talent, while some of us end up performing roles because we have developed skills in these areas as a result of continuous practice, or an adaptation we had to make in childhood to survive. Where we are operating from is important in terms of how fulfilled and aligned we will feel.

Our preferred role is one where we have both the capacity AND the desire to do it. I certainly have found myself perfectly able to perform all of the roles, however not all of them will give me a feeling of genuine fulfillment.

PRO TIP: Partnering with others can be helpful

We are all likely to have preferred roles and established tendencies so it is helpful to identify your strengths and identify your dominant role.
Reflect on past projects - are you naturally inclined to dream big, plan meticulously, or critique thoroughly? If you do all three, what percentage of the pie would they take up? Use this awareness to balance your approach moving forward.
If you find you struggle with one of the roles, instead of trying to hold all three roles inside yourself (which can cause major blockages) consider partnering with someone who complements your strengths.
If you’re a Dreamer, find someone who can ground and help you turn ideas into reality. If you’re a Realist, seek out a Critic who can help refine your plans.

In summary

The Disney Frame is for individuals, and works brilliantly in teams, too. Maybe your preferred role is a Dreamer who struggles to get practical, or a Critic who finds it hard to start. Recognising motivations and strengths and balancing them within a group can transform the way you collaborate and create.

A challenge for you

Think of a project or decision you’re currently wrestling with. Try dedicating separate, focused time to each role.

First, let yourself Dream big.
Then, shift into Realist mode and plan.
Finally, take a break before returning as the Critic to refine.

Notice what shifts when you approach your ideas this way.

Using the Disney Frame in your projects

For your next project, dedicate time to each of the three roles. Spend an allotted, boundaried amount of time in each role, using the questions provided earlier as prompts.

Dreamer: Free-write or draw out your vision.

Set a timer and allow yourself to brainstorm freely. No idea is too wild!
Use a mind map or a blank page to jot down everything that excites you about the project.

Realist: Create a project timeline or action list.

Once your brainstorming session is over, switch gears. Create a practical action plan based on your ideas.
List out resources, steps, and potential challenges. Remember, the goal here is to turn dreams into actionable goals.

Critic: Review your work and identify at least three improvements.

Step away for a bit, then return with fresh eyes. Review your plan critically.
Identify areas that need refinement. Challenge your assumptions and be open to making changes.

As always, let me know how you get on. I love hearing from you.

And please share the sign up link with anyone who you think would appreciate some Practical Magic too.

Best,

Freya

P.S. Through my experience as both a creative human being and a witness to my incredible clients, I have grown to understand the process in a very rich way. Like everything else in life, it touches on many other themes. So while you could choose to read this purely as a guide to creative flow, I recommend you spend some time reflecting on the depth and breadth of its applicability to many areas of life.