SSG
Well-Known Member
“The idea that it would come out of nowhere — kablam! — like a square peg in a round hole, is like the Guardians.”
His legacy is set.
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News Joe Rohde Retiring
- Thread starter Anjin
- Start date
His legacy is set.
John park hopper
Well-Known Member
So who in the ranks can step into Joe's shoes, did he have an understudy or is his position been completely eliminated?
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
Why is it that when a legendary Imagineer with a decades long resume that defines the industry helms a project that underwhelms die hard fans of the project, it ends up being gold?
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
The 'gold standard'...?
( personally, I'll take the top concept art over the bottom one any ol' day....)
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mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Gold in large amounts is just gaudy. I’m surprised anyone that is an expert in themed design would ever go with that much gold for a theme park land or a tower seen from all over the resort.
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No Name
Well-Known Member
I think that's fairly obvious, all things considered. This news hit as I was driving somewhere between Medford and Roseburg, but it's culturally notable even if that part of southern Oregon is not (although stunningly beautiful!).
Mr. Rohde's time has suddenly passed, like the Four Seasons from Philadelphia trying to still get radio airplay in 1967 when everyone suddenly wanted only psychedelic sounds from San Francisco. Perhaps, the entire era of Celebrity Imagineers! has now passed in the Covid collapse era of 2020.
WDI just can't afford that sort of thing any longer.... The 7 figure incomes. The big homes in Pasadena or La Canada or Anaheim Hills. The 3-Tesla garages with contractual charging stations at their WDI office. The routine "research trips" for three weeks at a Ritz-Carlton in foreign lands that are required for new attractions that are conveniently themed only to countries that have a Ritz-Carlton?
Yeah, Mr. Rohde's time has passed. The entire collapse of the theme park industry (except Florida) during Covid just put that nail in that coffin.
While your previous comments were valid, and Mr. Rohde clearly had talent, the distended ear on a man nearing Social Security age was nothing but creepy. And Disney knew it was creepy; thus the constant portraitures and official photographs of Rohde that always had his grossly distended ear facing away from the camera or artist.
But for those who adore Mr. Rohde, just go to Tokyo DisneySea and pull a Fastpass for their Tower of Terror. It's pretty much nothing but a Joe Rohde fangasm from pre-show to ride finale'. It almost ruins what is genuinely a great attraction, except for the creepy adulation of an Imagineer that the average Japanese has never heard of.
But at least the Oriental Land Company was wise enough to insist his distended ear not be shown to Tokyo guests.
Yeah, good point. He wasn't really a West Coaster. The Mission:Breakout thing appears to be his final hurrah, and one of his rare projects in the Pacific time zone. He was mostly a Florida guy, with lots of side hustle from the Oriental Land Company.
To say Tokyo’s ToT is “pretty much nothing but a Joe Rohde fangasm from pre-show to ride finale” when his only involvement is allowing them to use his face as a model, for a character that only appears as still artwork for a few seconds in the preshow... this is why nobody takes you seriously.
Also, Joe camped in a tent on most of his trips, and his earring is present in most company photos.
Robbiem
Well-Known Member
Animal kingdom was obviously his main achievement at WDI but he was also involved in projects like Aulani in Hawaii and the nature villages in Paris as well as the planned lighthouse point for DCL pretty much the go to guy for nature of local culture
he has had a good career i hope he has a good retirement
he has had a good career i hope he has a good retirement
Rich T
Well-Known Member
When I visited WDW in ‘93, Epcot blew my mind. Now I’d rather go to Fun Spot Orlando.
Orlando news is reporting an additional 4K layoffs in parks and resorts in the first quarter of 2021. Rohde could have been part of the number.
Kobe!!
Well-Known Member
Can anyone tell me what the entire list of accomplishments are based on the photo I added?
Here is a list in order based on the photo:
Pleasure Island
DAK
Asia
Dinorama
Everest
Aulani
WAT????****
Avatar
DAK 2 Expansion????****
I guess I’m confused on what WAT is along with the DAK 2 expansion. Anyone know? Also, I tend to believe theirs something before pleasure island that has worn off...
Here is a list in order based on the photo:
Pleasure Island
DAK
Asia
Dinorama
Everest
Aulani
WAT????****
Avatar
DAK 2 Expansion????****
I guess I’m confused on what WAT is along with the DAK 2 expansion. Anyone know? Also, I tend to believe theirs something before pleasure island that has worn off...
Attachments
Little Green Men
Well-Known Member
According to Zach in the comments WAT is Wild Africa Trek
Robbiem
Well-Known Member
Joe Rohde has joined virgin galactic - didn’t see that coming!
www.virgingalactic.com
Virgin Galactic Announces Legendary Former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde as Experience Architect - Virgin Galactic
With preparations underway for the first Future Astronauts to arrive at Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic has brought in Joe Rohde as a strategic advisor.
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SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
From what I understand, in Joe Rohde's first meeting at Virgin Galactic he suggested they repaint each of their spacecraft gold, and glue pipes on the outside for better aerodynamics.
Tamandua
Well-Known Member
So this must mean he was forced out at Disney.Joe Rohde has joined virgin galactic - didn’t see that coming!
Virgin Galactic Announces Legendary Former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde as Experience Architect - Virgin Galactic
With preparations underway for the first Future Astronauts to arrive at Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic has brought in Joe Rohde as a strategic advisor.
el_super
Well-Known Member
Why? Can't a man just decide to do something else?
Tamandua
Well-Known Member
Well if you look at the statements he made when his retirement was announced, he mentioned some things he wanted to make time for, none of which were anything like this. I guess we don't know for sure but this sure doesn't feel like something for which you'd leave a high level job a WDI. Many people were let go. Not crazy to think he was among them.
el_super
Well-Known Member
Yeah, but it's always possible this new job won't require a lot of time and traveling, like a job at WDI would. Gives him more time to do what he wants.
I think the more surprising thing here is how much respect he must have for Michael Colglazier to go back to working for him.