Walt Disney Imagineering makes organizational changes and details of new creative leads at the theme parks

Nov 21, 2019 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Zach Riddley
Posted: Thursday November 21, 2019 9:05am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney Imagineering is making a series of changes to its organizational structure over the coming months to meet the ever growing responsibilities that the group has over theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, Disney merchandise, books and games.

Kareem Daniel, who previously worked as Executive Vice President of Global Business Operations at Walt Disney Imagineering, has been promoted to a new role of President, WDI Business Operations, Product Creation, Games, and Publishing. He will continue to report to Bob Weis, President of Walt Disney Imagineering.

A new role is being created for Walt Disney Imagineering Parks Design & Delivery, reporting to Bob Weiss and Kareem Daniel. This new leadership position, which is still to be filled, will focus purely on the parks, resorts and cruise ships.

At the theme parks, Zach Riddley is the Site Portfolio Executive for Walt Disney World, the WDI representative for that resort. Then within WDI at Walt Disney World, Chris Beatty becomes the WDI Park Creative Executive for both Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Joe Rohde remains WDI Park Creative Executive at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Zach Riddley with Tom Fitzgerald head up the leads at Epcot.

At Disneyland Resort, Jeanette Lomboy is the WDI Site Portfolio Executive, with Scott Trowbridge the WDI Park Creative Executive for both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Although taking on the new role at Disneyland, Scott will continue as creative lead on Star Wars projects.

Overseas, Daniel Jue is the WDI Park Creative Executive for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Luc Mayrand for Hong Kong Disneyland, Nancy Seruto for Shanghai Disneyland, and Tom Fitzgerald for both parks in Paris.

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the.dreamfinderDec 02, 2019

Animaniac93-98Nov 30, 2019

I think I found it: fast forward to 10:30

Animaniac93-98Nov 29, 2019

Many have had TV specials or lengthy video essays made about them. Travel Channel did a one-hour special on DisneySea about a year after the park opened. It's on YouTube if anyone wants to watch it. Does anyone know if that WESTCOT promo video shown in Episode 4 has been posted elsewhere online?

wedenterprisesNov 29, 2019

these could each be an episode

jt04Nov 29, 2019

Nope. PS- The new Disney+ WDI episode is a must.

tirianNov 29, 2019

I don’t want to think about it, but you’re right.

lazyboy97oNov 29, 2019

Iger tried to be the guy who broke up Disney and sold off Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

LilofanNov 29, 2019

That's not even funny but could happen if the price is right.

larryzNov 29, 2019

When the roller coaster ride is over, Iger retires with his mountain of stock, his lifetime Gold Pass, and the legacy of "rescuing" the parks from mediocrity. And his successor gets the honor of breaking up the company and selling off the parts and pieces to Marriott, the Blackstone group, Six Flags, Cedar Fair and Viacom.

Animaniac93-98Nov 29, 2019

History has a tendency of repeating itself. Bob Chapek's current idea of building IP things on the cheap like Mission: KABLAM, Avengers Campus, Toy Story Playland and Frozen Ever After sounds like something Paul Pressler/Eisner would have proposed if they were still in charge. Hell, the big solution to finally "fix" Paradise Pier was to...put Pixar characters on the existing rides. There was an emphasis on low risk investment during the late 90s and Episode 4 takes a swipe at WDSP for copying other park's rides. Well, has that changed much since then? They're spending more money, but the philosophy hasn't changed. Then Eisner says at the end of episode 4 "nobody's ever complained that the Disney company is in financial distress." Sounds like a lot of posters here when they talk about attendance and spending to justify ever increasing prices and weak park concepts.

Animaniac93-98Nov 29, 2019

They did not hold back! All in 1 episode: Disney Cruise Line Animal Kingdom Disney's America WESTCOT California Adventure DisneySea Disney Studios Paris (the least said, but honest) Hong Kong Disneyland And NEW interview footage with Paul Pressler! 😮

ChrisFLNov 28, 2019

Here's a video posted recently about it as well

the.dreamfinderNov 28, 2019

No. I had no idea. Reading up on it.

ChrisFLNov 28, 2019

Have you seen the stuff about Nara Dreamland and how it was nearly the first Japanese Disney park?