Joe Rohde Reveals His Favorite Restaurant In Animal Kingdom

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks

There are a lot of things to love about Animal Kingdom Park at the Walt Disney World Resort. From thrill rides like Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain and Avatar: Flight of Passage to one-of-a-kind experiences like the Wild Africa Trek and delicious dining experiences at places like Satu’li Canteen and Nomad Lounge, everyone is sure to have a great day at this newest Disney World theme park.

In addition to exciting rides and fun shows, there are also a ton of places to eat. For those who want something quick and delicious, Flame Tree BBQ is one of the most popular places to eat. Satu’li Canteen is another popular choice, known for its cheeseburger pods and build-your-own bowls. But what is the best restaurant in the Park? Well, there is sure to be some debate about that, but one former Disney Imagineer has named his pick — Tiffins Restaurant, located on Discovery Island.

If you are a big Disney fan, then you may be familiar with the name Joe Rohde. Rohde is one of The Walt Disney Company’s most prolific Imagineers — being the main creative force behind not only Animal Kingdom Park, but also Expedition Everest, Pandora: The World of Avatar, and Aulani: A Disney Resort & Spa.

Rohde is very active on social media and was recently asked by a fan what his favorite restaurant in Animal Kingdom was. While Rohde admitted that it was difficult to choose, he ultimately decided on the high-end table service restaurant, Tiffins.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to dine at Tiffins, here is more information on the delicious eatery from the Walt Disney World Resort website:

Seek and you shall find a treasure trove of mouthwatering delights from far-off places for lunch and dinner.

Roam the road less traveled at Tiffins Restaurant, thanks to a globetrotting menu of artfully prepared fare fit for a weary traveler. Begin your expedition with Spiced Chickpea Falafel, Charred Octopus or our signature bread service, before planting your flag with the Tamarind-braised Short Rib or Surf and Turf. Seafarers, fortune hunters and vagabonds will no doubt find new discoveries in the shrimp and grits served with Applewood smoked bacon and heirloom tomatoes.

Leaving no stone unturned? Satisfy your sweet tooth with Passion Fruit Tapioca Creme or our signature dessert, South American Chocolate Ganache.

For an additional cost, Guests 21 years of age and up can pack additional provisions with a selection from the renowned wine list—many of which are available by the glass—in addition to a noble assortment of after-dinner liqueurs, dessert wines and specialty drinks.

No matter which direction your compass points, you’re sure to encounter an unimaginable abundance of delectable food at Tiffins Restaurant.

As you can see from Rohde’s tweet, there are a ton of great dining options at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. Whether you want a small snack, a quick meal, or a signature or character dining experience, you are sure to find something you’ll love at Animal Kingdom. You can read more about all of Disney Park’s dining spots by clicking here.

Iconic Imagineer Joe Rohde Speaks Out on ‘Guardians’ Coaster Controversy

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot, Uncategorized

Via InsideTheMagic.net

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the latest addition to EPCOT, scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend. Despite the excitement, some fans have been disappointed with the ride, especially its location in EPCOT.

EPCOT, which stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, started as Walt Disney’s dream to have a future-focused city where people could live, work, and enjoy world-class experiences. Over the years, it has evolved into a celebration of the future, earth’s natural beauty, the vastness of space, and cultures from around the world.

EPCOT fans have long-questioned the addition of Intellectual Properties to the Disney Park, as it intentionally opened without them, instead focusing on the wonders of learning and imagination. Over the years, to critical fan response, EPCOT has replaced Norway’s Maelstrom with Frozen Ever After, added character meet-and-greets around the theme Park, and, most recently, recreated Disneyland Paris’ beloved Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure dark ride in France.

Though fans who have been able to preview the ride have overwhelmingly enjoyed it, some EPCOT fans are still uncertain that it fits in the Park. Some of them took to Twitter this week to ask Disney Imagineering Icon Joe Rohde what he thought of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind’s place at EPCOT.

Joe Rohde explorer outfit

Joe Rohde is best known for being the lead designer of Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Though retired, many Disney fans look to his expert opinion when a new attraction or experience opens at not just Animal Kingdom, but any one of the Disney Parks.

User @Millionaire2K Tweeted Rohde, asking:

@Joe_Rohde Please chime in on the GotG in Epcot debate! What’s your thoughts? Oh, and have u ridden?

Joe Rohde

Rohde replied that he hasn’t ridden, given that he’s enjoying life in California post-retirement. He asked fans to clarify more on the debate before he’d chime in:

I don’t know anything about a debate. Also (Retired. Live in California.) what’s the gist?

User @BillZanetti explained some Disney fans’ concerns about the theming to Rohde and said fans trusted his opinion because of his work on Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission: Breakout, which replaced Tower of Terror at Disneyland Resort’s Disney California Adventure Park and is widely popular. He wrote:

I think that people want to know your opinion on it because they know you had the Marvel Creative Portfolio at one time, and you led Mission: Breakout through an extraordinarily fast process. The new offering at Epcot had a lot more time to develop and the debate is “fit”…

Rohde replied, stating that you have to find a balance between how well done the coaster is and how well it fits into not EPCOT’s past, but it’s current Intellectual Property initiatives:

So then the question is not necessarily how well does this express Epcot as it was, but rather how well does it address the mandate to use IP in the context of Epcot. You have to parse between “Is it well done?” versus “Is it addressing a valid initiative?” Don’t smush.

A fan (@gatortebowfan15) who rode Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Walt Disney World praised the coaster, saying that while it might not fit into Walt’s initial vision for EPCOT, he thinks it’s going to be a success:

I can report I was able to ride Guardians at EPCOT Center over the weekend. I know it may not fit into the original educational theme of the park, but let’s give Walt Disney Imagineering some credit, it’s a really great attraction. I’m sure it’s going to very popular.

EPCOT cosmic rewind with spaceship earth

Rohde quoted this response, praising Tom Fitzgerald, an Imagineer that initiated and developed Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. He wrote that his own opinion on the ride shouldn’t matter since only those who have ridden it should be involved in the debate:

Tom Fitzgerald is a great Imagineer with a great nose for popular consumption. He initiated and developed this project. I would therefore believe that the attraction is great, having not seen it in person. The debate should be constrained to those who have.

User @derekjcole expressed that he feels there’s a split in the Disney Parks fan community between people who have ridden the ride and those who haven’t:

Seems like those that have been on it love it and those on Twitter that have not hate it. Who are we to believe?

Onboard Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Rohde gave one last opinion on the subject by quoting this Tweet, stating that the most essential part of any Disney Parks attraction is to make Guests happy. He wrote:

Yes. The ultimate ultimate goal is to bring happiness. Are people happy?

ime will tell what Joe Rohde thinks when he has the opportunity to visit EPCOT and ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

Theme Parks Should Be More Than Just Fun

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Earlier today, former Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde took to Instagram to tackle the dilemma: “should theme parks just be fun?”

Joe posits that “people must be paying this kind of money and making this kind of effort for a reward that is of higher value, more rare, and of greater impact than fun”. He goes on to say that the sensation of being transported “magically into another place or another time” is the reward that people should find when visiting theme parks.

Guests who visit Disney Parks make a large investment. According to Rohde, the product they are purchasing isn’t a character; it’s a memory. It’s an experience.

Joe Rohde recently retired from Walt Disney Imagineering. 

Former Disney Imagineer Sells Disney Memorabilia on eBay

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Via DisneyTips.com

Remember former (and very famous) Disney Imagineer, Joe Rohde? Well, of course! Joe retired in January 2021 after working 40 years with Disney. He was the lead designer of Disney’s Animal Kingdom with major influences on Expedition Everest. He was also one of the lead designers behind the Disney Vacation Club property Aulani in Oʻahu, Hawaii. As he’s cleaning out, he’s finding Disney memorabilia that he has decided to sell via eBay!

As shared via Joe Rohde Instagram: “Retirement involves downsizing a bit which has surfaced a pile of old Disney memorabilia from 40 years of “Oh that might be worth something.” These are now emerging from plastic bins and cardboard boxes in basement, attic, garage, studio, and dark corners of closets where no one has been since before Friends was cancelled. All of it is now in the hands of a friend who is selling it off. eBay. Link in bio. So much you might ask. “what are you keeping?” Well…my various trophies, a few Disney’s Animal Kingdom bits, an Aulani lamp, and social harmony in the household.”

Interested in checking out the merchandise? Currently, various items are available on eBay via Joe’s friend’s account: fairytalerachel. Check them all out at the link here.

Virgin Galactic Hires Former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Virgin Galactic, an aerospace company manufacturing air and space vehicles and seeking to provide spaceflight to private individuals and researchers, has hired former Imagineer Joe Rohde, who left Disney this year.

Rohde will be Virgin Galactic’s first Experience Architect, bringing his experience as an Imagineer to the job of designing experiences for the company’s future astronauts.

Rohde, who is most known for his work at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, recently arrived in New Mexico. In the company’s press release, he said, “I spent 40 years with Walt Disney Imagineering and that word, ‘Imagineering,’ refers to the fusion of imagination and engineering. This means I’ve come from a tradition where if you are imagining something, you are imagining that thing is going to be made real. That’s also been going on here at Virgin Galactic, and I’m delighted to be joining at this incredible moment in time when it is about to blossom into public awareness.”

Rohde continued, “This is one of the most profound things that can happen to you. To go beyond the reaches of the earth, to space, and look back down at it. It’s a spectacularly unique opportunity with huge potential for transformational change in a person… What Virgin Galactic is doing, in democratizing space travel, has reached a moment where it is about to enter history. It’s happening right here in New Mexico, and it’s very rare to be a person who gets to be in the place, at the time, that history begins.”

Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic who also previously worked for Disney, said, “As soon as I joined Virgin Galactic, I knew there was one person we just had to work with to help shape the incredible experience we are developing – and that person was Joe Rohde. Joe has a methodology that is unique, inspired, and truly effective. His track record for keeping authenticity central to the design and creating deeply transformative experiences aligns perfectly with our mission. I couldn’t be more pleased to see Joe choose Virgin Galactic for his first encore!”