Disney has announced a new panel for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event dedicated to Joe Rohde and his upcoming memoir, “Floating Mountains.” The session is titled “Floating Mountains: A Conversation with Joe Rohde.” It will give fans a look at the Disney Legend’s career, including his work on Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.
Joe Rohde Panel Announced for 2026 D23 Expo
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- A new D23 2026 panel will spotlight Joe Rohde’s memoir “Floating Mountains.”
- The book releases September 8th and covers his work on Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Aulani.
- D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event runs August 14th through August 16th in Anaheim.
According to D23’s official description, the panel invites fans to “join Disney Legend Joe Rohde for an exclusive discussion of his memoir Floating Mountains.” Disney says Rohde will explore creativity, collaboration, and his work on Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Aulani, and beyond. The description calls it rare insight into one of Disney’s most visionary artists.
Join Disney Legend Joe Rohde for an exclusive discussion of his memoir Floating Mountains. He’ll explore creativity, collaboration, and his work on Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Aulani, and beyond—offering rare insight into one of Disney’s most visionary artists.
Rohde retired from Walt Disney Imagineering in January 2021 after a 40-year career. He was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2024. Rohde is best known as the lead Imagineer behind Disney’s Animal Kingdom. He also led creative design work on Aulani in Hawaii and Villages Nature near Disneyland Paris. Since retiring, he has continued to consult with Disney periodically, including a series of Imagineering master classes.
Floating Mountains: A Conversation with Joe Rohde will take place on Saturday, August 15th from 12:30pm to 1:30pm on the Walt Disney Archives Stage.
Floating Mountains Releases in September
Rohde first announced Floating Mountains as “Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible,” his upcoming memoir. National Geographic is publishing the book. It’s set for release on September 8th and runs 320 pages. The book blends autobiography with a broader look at creativity. It draws on Rohde’s Disney career, plus experiences like his work with Virgin Galactic’s space tourism program and expeditions to the Himalayas and Mongolia.
The title references the floating mountains of Pandora, the fictional setting for Pandora: The World of Avatar. Rohde led that Animal Kingdom project during his time at Imagineering. Ahead of its release, the book has already reached the top of several Amazon Best Seller lists.
D23 attendees will likely be able to purchase the book at the event, and Rohde is also expected to sign copies on-site.
Part of a Packed D23 2026 Lineup
The Rohde panel joins more than 50 panels and presentations scheduled for the Anaheim Convention Center. That’s part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, which runs August 14th through August 16th. Three marquee evening showcases will also take place at the Honda Center that weekend. Those are the Disney Entertainment Showcase on August 14th, the Disney Experiences Showcase on August 15th, and the Disney Legends Award Ceremony on August 16th.
Guests planning to attend can find our full ticket buying guide for this year’s event. It covers Honda Center access too. We’ll keep watching for the Rohde panel’s specific date, time, and location as D23 releases its full schedule.
Keep Reading
- Joe Rohde’s New Book Climbs to Top of Amazon Best Seller Lists During Pre-Order for more on how “Floating Mountains” has performed ahead of its release.
- Legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde Releasing New Book “Floating Mountains” for our original coverage of the memoir’s announcement, including its full pre-order description.
- Step-by-Step Ticket Buying Guide for D23 Expo 2026, Including Honda Center (With Screenshots) if you still need to lock down your tickets for the event.
- 2026 D23 Expo Dates & Details Announced for background on when and where this year’s event takes place.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!