Zach Riddley promoted to Global Creative Strategy Executive

[Disney Analyst]

To everyone posting in here: I dare you,

Say something nice about Zach challenge.

Go - you can do it! Show some kindness in here.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

 

[Skywise]

So he was in charge of everything Epcot?

Including the disastrous Harmonious show complete with tacos?

 

[No Name]

Being gay doesn't absolve you of criticism, sweetie.

They never suggested it does, muchacho.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I think it’s because he was the public face of a vastly disliked project. I also think some dog pile on him because he’s part of the lgbtq community.

…that comment requires some “splaining’”

For sure

 

[No Name]

…that comment requires some “splaining’”

For sure

I’ll explain. For example, on a pride-related Instagram post of his, the first comment is “stop grooming kids”. There are multiple other similarly bad things written below it.

That hatred hasn’t been prevalent here, in part thanks to the moderators. But I’m not sure why there are so many defensive replies here to @Stupido ’s correct comment.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I’ll explain. For example, on a pride-related Instagram post of his, the first comment is “stop grooming kids”. There are multiple other similarly bad things written below it.

That hatred hasn’t been prevalent here, in part thanks to the moderators. But I’m not sure why there are so many defensive replies here to @Stupido ’s correct comment.

Yeah…but that kinda stuff is pretty standard for X…or whatever da hell it’s called now…

I just hope it isn’t some inference “it’s hard to be lgbtq and be Involved with Disney…”

I call great foul on that…
Very few - if any - companies have been more forward looking with that demographic than Disney…both as a place to work and for customers To go and enjoy.

Doesn’t mean it’s not an issue to still overcome…by a lot…
But loud/backward/dying and angry people who troll are to be paid no mind.

Just my opinion.

 

[flynnibus]

To everyone posting in here: I dare you,

Say something nice about Zach challenge.

Go - you can do it! Show some kindness in here.

Can it be as fake, fluffy, and overdone like his gram posts?

 

[Disney Analyst]

Can it be as fake, fluffy, and overdone like his gram posts?

It needs to be genuine and littered with kindness.

There is always time for kindness.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I’ll give him a compliment: Connections is worlds ahead of Electric Umbrella and perfect for World Celebration.

 

[dreday3]

I like the floors in Club Cool!

 

[SaucyBoy]

To everyone posting in here: I dare you,

Say something nice about Zach challenge.

Go - you can do it! Show some kindness in here.

He does have nice hair!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It needs to be genuine and littered with kindness.

There is always time for kindness.

…wait a minute…are you trying to announce you’re starring in Disneys new live action remake of Pollyanna?

 

[Drdcm]

To everyone posting in here: I dare you,

Say something nice about Zach challenge.

Go - you can do it! Show some kindness in here.

I also liked the tiles. I’m serious

 

[Disney Analyst]

…wait a minute…are you trying to announce you’re starring in Disneys new live action remake of Pollyanna?

Is this my Tom Holland spilling the beans moment?!

 

[doctornick]

I feel like a heathen or something but Im not sure I get the hate. The social media posts were weird but I actually appreciate putting out there some of the thought process for design processes - it just wasn’t as interesting stuff as we used to see from Rohde in the past. In terms of the direction for Epcot, I sense that was largely dictated from above in terms of less “boring ideas and edutainment” (eg it always feels like Cosmic Rewind was a more general Big Bang ride that had a GotG overlay forced on it). The table building was I thought Iger’s big push which forced the change for western Innoventions (and I like the idea of JoW but that’s me). Overall given the mandates, I think it’s a pretty decent redo including homages to the past and improvements to the “look” for the food and merch. My big complaint would be the loss of the fountain but at least there was plans for a replacement that seemed to later get cut.

I guess my point is I think the execution is solid and I’m not sure how much the “vision” stuff people don’t like was under his control.

 

[No Name]

I feel like a heathen or something but Im not sure I get the hate. The social media posts were weird but I actually appreciate putting out there some of the thought process for design processes - it just wasn’t as interesting stuff as we used to see from Rohde in the past. In terms of the direction for Epcot, I sense that was largely dictated from above in terms of less boring ideas and more edutainment (and it always feels like Cosmic Rewind was a Big Bang ride that had a GotG overlay forced on it). The table building was I thought Iger’s big push which forced the change for western Innoventions (and I like the idea of JoW but that’s me). Overall given the mandates, I think it’s a pretty decent redo including homages to the past and improvements to the “look” for the food and merch. My big complaint would be the loss of the fountain but at least there was plans for a replacement that seemed to later get cut.

I guess my point is I think the execution is solid and I’m not sure how much the “vision” stuff people don’t like was under his control.

Yeah, a lot of people are judging him heavily on a project that not only got publicly mothballed post-pandemic, but has all of the signs of something that went through the corporate wringer before even getting announced. While I don’t see anything particularly great in the whole redo, I certainly don’t know enough about what went on behind the scenes to make negative comments about him.


Congrats on the promotion.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I feel like a heathen or something but Im not sure I get the hate. The social media posts were weird but I actually appreciate putting out there some of the thought process for design processes - it just wasn’t as interesting stuff as we used to see from Rohde in the past.

Yes, I felt mostly this way. The social media posts weren't earth-shattering, but I actually preferred getting those updates on smaller details to the no updates they offer now. My suspicion is that they thought he was a good way to reach fans who obsess over the small details of the parks, but found out that this crowd is actually the most likely to gather up the pitch forks if every announcement isn't a new e-ticket/Horizons rebuild. So, now they just stick to PR aimed at the more casual fans.

I don't feel I know enough about his creative work to comment on Zach's abilities beyond the highly-edited posts we saw on social media. I suspect, though, that neither does almost everybody posting all these snarky remarks about his incompetence or failing upwards. I think people forget they're talking about actual human beings sometimes and it's not like he murdered anyone (that we know of, anyway).

 

[Robbiem]

I only hope he selected tiles for the UK bathrooms at Epcot before moving on. I’m hoping it will look and smell like The Tube. Imagine how much they can save by telling the janitors to NOT wipe up urine off the floor.

Completely off topic but the tiles on the original London tube stations were all different designs because a lot of victorians couldn’t read and navigated by knowing they got off at the station with the blue diamonds etc

I actually think a tube themed restroom would be a fun idea especially if its a retheme of the basic ones there now, although it does have a great hampton court entrance

 

[Lil Copter Cap]

The balance between creatively leading throughout the chaos of COVID-19, adhering to budget [and subsequent cuts], AND remaining the positive, smiling face of a [horribly underinvested and overall eventually terrible] project cannot be easy. I'm not saying he wasn't in choice around his position. But I AM saying that he must've done this well enough to warrant a promotion.

And let me be clear: I am not defending him, the EPCOT overhaul, or the inner workings of corporate America. But I AM putting into perspective that this individual was under a lot of moving parts that, whether liked from the outside or not, deserved recognition.

Thankfully, and I do mean this sincerely, he has been with Imagineering for almost 20 years working under a plethora of well-loved Imagineers and ACTUALLY HAS design experience with every Disney resort worldwide.