How would you like to have lunch at California Grill…
…and then spend 45 minutes hearing Disney Legend Joe Rohde tell stories from his incredible Imagineering career?
D23 has announced a special new Walt Disney World event that could be particularly tempting for fans of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the history of Walt Disney Imagineering.
D23 Lunch with Disney Legend Joe Rohde will take place on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 11:30 AM inside California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and tickets go on sale today, August 28.
The intimate event combines a buffet lunch at one of Walt Disney World’s signature restaurants with a 45-minute moderated conversation with Rohde, where the former Imagineer will discuss his creative career, expeditions around the world, and stories from behind the scenes of making Disney magic.
Every attendee will also leave with a signed copy of Rohde’s new book, Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible. For longtime Disney Parks fans, that’s a pretty impressive afternoon.
Rohde spent 40 years with Walt Disney Imagineering, ultimately serving as a portfolio creative executive before retiring from Disney in 2021. But if you’ve spent much time at Walt Disney World, you probably know him best as one of the primary creative forces behind Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Rohde served as the park’s overall creative executive and supervising designer, helping establish an approach to themed design that went far beyond simply creating a Disney version of a zoo. His work emphasized conservation, culture, environmental storytelling, and the idea that the physical environment itself could tell a story.
That philosophy can still be found throughout Animal Kingdom today. Rohde later helped lead the development of Expedition Everest — Legend of the Forbidden Mountain and Pandora — The World of Avatar, two projects that became some of the clearest examples of his approach to immersive placemaking. His Disney portfolio extends well beyond Animal Kingdom, too.
Rohde’s projects included the former Adventurers Club at Pleasure Island, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai’i, and Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disney California Adventure. His very first Imagineering assignment involved building detailed models for EPCOT’s Mexico pavilion.
His work also extended into conservation. Rohde was instrumental in the creation of the Disney Conservation Fund, which Disney says has distributed more than $125 million in grants supporting conservation projects around the world. He received the organization’s first Conservation Legacy Award in 2022.
Disney officially inducted Rohde as a Disney Legend in 2024 in the Imagineering category.
So when D23 says this conversation will include stories from Rohde’s creative career and his expeditions around the world, there’s an enormous amount of ground to cover.
Here’s What Your Ticket Includes
The October 2 event begins at 11:30 AM ET at California Grill, located high inside Disney’s Contemporary Resort overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon.
Attendees will receive a buffet lunch followed by the 45-minute moderated conversation with Rohde.
Each ticket also includes that pre-signed copy of Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible.
There are two different prices depending on your D23 membership level.
D23 Gold Members pay $159 plus a $3 processing fee per ticket, with tickets going on sale Friday, August 28 at 2 PM ET/11 AM PT.
D23 General Members pay $199 plus a $3 processing fee, with their ticket window opening one hour later at 3 PM ET/noon PT. That one-hour difference could be important.
D23 says quantities are limited and tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning Gold Members get both the lower price and an hour-long head start before General Member sales begin. Members can purchase a ticket for themselves and up to one guest, but every attendee needs an individual paid ticket. You also can’t simply buy the second ticket and decide later who will use it.
D23 requires a legal first and last name to be assigned to each guest’s ticket during the reservation process, and tickets are non-transferable. Adults may be asked to show government-issued identification matching the name attached to their ticket.
There Are Some Important Restrictions
This also isn’t a traditional Joe Rohde autograph or meet-and-greet event. While everyone receives a signed copy of the book, D23 specifically says Rohde will not sign additional personal items. Individual photographs with Rohde will not be offered either. The primary experience is the lunch and moderated conversation, with the signed book serving as the included keepsake.
Guests also need to be at least 12 years old to attend. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and that accompanying adult needs their own paid ticket. And there’s one particularly unusual logistical detail if you’re driving to the event.
Event parking will not be available at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. D23 is directing attendees to park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and then travel to the Contemporary using Disney transportation. D23 Members will also need to present their valid D23 Membership card (either physical or through the D23 App) along with their event ticket at check-in. All ticket sales are final, with no cancellations or refunds, and tickets can’t be transferred to someone else if your plans change.
For the right Disney fan, though, this could be a particularly special opportunity. Joe Rohde’s influence is still visible throughout Walt Disney World, from the extraordinary detail of Animal Kingdom to one of Disney’s most ambitious themed lands in Pandora.
And with Disney currently investing heavily in the future of Animal Kingdom—including the upcoming Tropical Americas expansion and major changes announced for Expedition Everest—there’s renewed attention on a park whose original identity Rohde played an enormous role in establishing.
Two days later, on October 4, Rohde is also scheduled to participate in D23’s “55 Magical Years of Storytelling” Spotlight Series at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. That separate event will celebrate Walt Disney World’s 55th anniversary and include discussions about Disney storytelling and the ongoing transformation of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.
Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for the latest D23 events, Disney Imagineering news, and special experiences coming to Walt Disney World.
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