Originally Posted By ssWEDguy I'm signed up for a Disney Learning center seminar -- "A Conversation with Joe Rohde." I'm really looking forward to this. It's in early April and will be at the MK Walt Disney Theater. You have to sign up in advance for this through the Disney Learning Center. These talks are a marvelous bennie for CM's. I've gotten to visit this way with Jason Surrell, Dave Smith, Lee Cockerell, Brad Rex, Jim Korkis, and many others. Just thought you LPers who have to live elsewhere and can't be part of this would want to know. Thank you Disney Learning Center for helping to make such things happen.
Originally Posted By alisserae Signed up the day the new calender got released. It's too bad I've had difficulty in exicting my fellow coworkers about the opportunity. Very much looking forward to it. I just hope park 1 isn't closed.
Originally Posted By leemac <<It's in early April>> I guess it is near April 6 and 7! ) If you haven't heard Joe talk before he is totally captivating. He is an absolute natural speaker and so enthusiastic about DAK. Enjoy.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy April 3, 10am is what I've got. "Joe Rohde began his career at WDI as a model designer and scenic painter in 1980, working on the Mexico pavilion for Epcot. Sinc then he has designed numerous attractions for New Fantasyland at DLR, Captain EO, the Norway pavilion for Epcot, and the Adventurer's Club at PI. Since it's inception in 1990, Joe has led conceptualization, design, and production for Disney's Animal Kingdom. As an Executive Designer and VP with WDI, he is currently in charge of design and development for DAK."
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> Joe worked on the New Fantasyland? WOW! What did he do?? << Don't know. I wasn't aware of this either. I'm just quoting his bio. I'll let you know what I know after April 3.
Originally Posted By pitapan16 Tell me more about this seminar...What is Joe going to speak about? And how much does it cost?
Originally Posted By Labuda It's for CMs only, pitapan. If you don't get a paycheck from Disney, you can't go. Hey, ss - any chance you could get me his autograph?
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> What is Joe going to speak about? << The promo material didn't say what the topic was. My guess would be his time at Disney and his projects at large. Most likely a great lot of detail on EE. I go to things like this almost no matter what the topic. There's always a lot of good stuff. Quite often questions are allowed. Somebody will probably ask about Beastly Kingdom. Will be fun to hear what he has to say. >> any chance you could get me his autograph? << Autographs usually happen at these events, but it depends on the time and schedules. Do you have something special to be signed?
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy It just occurs to me that his April 3 talk day is close to EE's April 7 official opening. This can be good or bad. If there are late issues with the opening it could affect him being there. We'll see.
Originally Posted By Labuda hmmm, I've got a DAK guidebook from when DAK was first opened - back before they renamed The Oasis/Discovery Island. If I can figure out soon which bookshelf it's on, I'll get your snail mail and forward it to ya.
Originally Posted By leemac ssWEDguy I hope Joe doesn't need to cancel either (and I'm sure he won't). The opening is over a couple of days with the unveiling on the morning on the 7th and the new attraction announcement shortly afterwards.
Originally Posted By FoxHound Guessing this announcement is for the Theater in the Wild show? I'm also wondering if the Landry's folks already know what is next for Animal Kingdom and if this was a selling point for them to open their new restaurant. Sure, Everest will bring them in, but Landry's probably wanted to know what else Disney was planning to keep folks around for dinner.
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney "Sorry Lee...what is this new attraction announcement? For AK?" You're just gonna have to wait until April 7th ... unless someone else decides to leak the info
Originally Posted By leemac <<Sorry Lee...what is this new attraction announcement? For AK?>> I must admit I don't know precisely but I suspect it will just be the Finding Nemo show for DAK. The invitation pack for Everest specifically says "Future Attractions announcement" though. So it may be more than one...
Originally Posted By FoxHound I believe the announcement will be the Nemo show, The Living Seas update, and the Pirates update (they already announced Pirates, but they'll probably announce it again). It would be nice if they announced something else, though!
Originally Posted By Trinitys Ghost ssWEDguy - thanks for posting this information. I just started with WDW (MK) this past week, and didn't know this set of seminars existed. I won't be able to attend Joe's, but I hope I can catch one in the future.
