IAAPA, the global trade association for the attractions industry, announced details on the signature sessions planned for IAAPA Expo 2026. The event runs November 16th through 20th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Several sessions feature Disney figures, including a Legends Panel with former Walt Disney Imagineering leadership and a Shanghai Disney Resort executive speaking on global leadership. Here’s the latest!
IAAPA Expo 2026 Sets Disney-Focused Legends Panel and Leadership Sessions
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- The Legends 2026 Panel brings together former Walt Disney Imagineering leadership for a session on storytelling and creative collaboration
- A separate session pairs Bob Weis with author Bob Rogers to discuss transformational experience design
- Shanghai Disney Resort’s president headlines a leadership-focused Lunch and Learn session
Legends 2026 Panel Brings Together Bob Weis, Joe Rohde, and Leslie Iwerks
The Legends 2026 Panel, now in its 24th year, takes place Wednesday, November 18th, from 4pm to 5:30pm. This year’s panel brings together three figures from Disney’s storytelling history. Bob Weis, former President of Walt Disney Imagineering, joins Joe Rohde, retired Walt Disney Imagineer and Disney Legend, and Leslie Iwerks, an Oscar- and Emmy-nominated filmmaker.
Moderating the discussion is Bob Rogers, founder of BRC Imagination Arts and a 2010 IAAPA Hall of Fame inductee. The panel draws on the panelists’ decades of experience across themed entertainment and storytelling. It explores how creative collaboration transforms ideas into thematic environments, ride vehicles, films, and other experiences that resonate across generations. Attendees can expect firsthand insights and career lessons from three figures whose work has shaped Disney parks storytelling for decades.
Bob Weis and Bob Rogers Pair Up for a Session on Transformational Experiences
Ahead of the Legends Panel, Bob Rogers leads a separate session called DEEP STORY: The Secrets of Transformational Story Making. It’s scheduled for Monday, November 16th, from 10am to 11:30am. Rogers explores how thoughtfully designed experiences, including attractions, museums, and brand centers, can influence how visitors think, feel, and act long after they leave.
Bob Weis joins Rogers in conversation for this session. The two will share practical techniques for building experiences that create measurable impact beyond a single visit.
Shanghai Disney Resort’s President Headlines a Leadership Session
Andrew Bolstein, President and General Manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, headlines a Lunch and Learn session on Monday, November 16th, from noon to 2pm. Bolstein draws on more than three decades of global leadership experience across different markets and operational environments.
The session focuses on lessons in earning trust, leading through change, and navigating cultural differences. Bolstein will also address how resilience and a focus on developing people can strengthen organizations. He’ll draw directly on his current role leading one of Disney’s international resort operations.
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!