Fable McCloud
Well-Known Member
So much for that Yeti getting fixed...
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Joe Rohde announces retirement from WDI
- Thread starter DCBaker
- Start date
412
Well-Known Member
Joe Rohde is one of the all-time greatest Imagineers. Joe conceptualized Animal Kingdom from clear themes: the intrinsic value of nature, transformation through adventure, and a personal call to action. To match the realism of the live animals, Joe spearheaded new levels of realism and detail, applying the authentic artistry of EPCOT's Morocco pavilion to an entire park.
When an Avatar IP infusion threatened to disrupt Animal Kingdom's themes, he found the narrow space where the film and the park aligned and built Pandora in that small, overlapping slice of the venn diagram. It's been the most successful Disney park expansion in recent history, and – seemingly against all odds – reinforces the core themes of the park.
As EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios seem to blend together, I hope that Joe's commitment to theme finds new life at WDI.
When an Avatar IP infusion threatened to disrupt Animal Kingdom's themes, he found the narrow space where the film and the park aligned and built Pandora in that small, overlapping slice of the venn diagram. It's been the most successful Disney park expansion in recent history, and – seemingly against all odds – reinforces the core themes of the park.
As EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios seem to blend together, I hope that Joe's commitment to theme finds new life at WDI.
HairyChest
Well-Known Member
Universals Epic Universe is calling Joe..Please answer
Notes from Neverland
Well-Known Member
One of the greats. Extremely sad to see him go, but I have to hope his legacy will be carried on (in some ways) by those he inspired to become Imagineers.
Tavernacle12
Well-Known Member
When the pandemic started the first thing I wanted to do when it was over was go to WDW but the more news we get the less I want to go back in general. I don’t have faith the Disney I loved is ever coming back.
Is this what it feels like to have grown up with 80s Epcot?
Is this what it feels like to have grown up with 80s Epcot?
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
Welp, there it is. Not everything he did turned out well (Mission Breakout). But he was among the final remnants of actually talented imagineers who still commanded at least some degree of influence over executive leadership at Disney. I can't fathom any possibility that this will have anything besides a negative impact on the parks. Especially Animal Kingdom, of which I am now bracing myself for the likely inevitable ruination in the coming years.
I don't know whether he was actually Baxter'd or not, but it wouldn't surprise me.
I don't know whether he was actually Baxter'd or not, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Beyond what’s currently in the on track for the next 2-3 years, what’s WDW really planning for the next decade? COVID has killed anything long term and the next several years is going to be uneventful maintaining of status quo. Nothing interesting for him to stick around for.
Rteetz
Well-Known Member
I think that depends on who you ask. Mission Breakout has a lot of fans and is popular. Its also a project he was sort of pushed upon.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Why would he be untouchable? This is the same company that pushed out the Kirk Brothers, Tim Delaney, Tony Baxter and Tom Morris.
It's not.
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
Also, I assume Epic Universe is dead at this point.
Hard for me to have a net negative opinion of him overall anyways. I adore Animal Kingdom and (despite gripes with the rides themselves) think Pandora was beautiful and impressive.
It's not a good attraction, and a horrible replacement for ToT (thankfully WDW's superior original hasn't met the same fate quite yet). But I don't really blame him for its failure as he did indeed seem forced into it and likely did the best with what little he was given to work with.
Hard for me to have a net negative opinion of him overall anyways. I adore Animal Kingdom and (despite gripes with the rides themselves) think Pandora was beautiful and impressive.
Creathir
Premium Member
I agree.
He’s 65, just got back from a long vacation over the summer, and a bunch of his friends were just let go.
He was working on the resort in the Caribbean, assuming it’s been shelved, he would be between projects, or he did what he needed to in order to give it initial direction.
The timing is perfect for his exit, I wish him the best.
dreamscometrue
Well-Known Member
Perhaps, but I retired this year myself, and many people didn't expect it because I loved my job. Sometimes you just want to do something different, and the older you get the more your perspective might change. I'm kinda old so I can say that.
SplashJacket
Well-Known Member
If my memory serves me right, wasn't he leading the Lighthouse Point project? I wonder what that means for the development. The website is still operational.
Rteetz
Well-Known Member
Joe was a character in himself. They used his popularity to their advantage with many different events and crazy expensive ABD trips.
wedenterprises
Well-Known Member
Had the same thought. I would think it's delayed at the very least. Good time to go.
deeevo
Well-Known Member
Yes, he took the package and it was to good to pass up. My company has lost many good engineers with 30 and 40 years of experience. They were offered a retirement package and it was the smart thing to do. He could do some consulting work on contract down the line.
SplashJacket
Well-Known Member
Here's Joe Rohde talking about his ongoing project, Lighthouse Point
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Which can still be done. Would anyone be surprised if he was given a deal like Baxter or Morris with consulting exclusivity and events?
DVCakaCarlF
Well-Known Member
Sad I missed tiffins talks...no mas.