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Joe Rohde Spent 15 Years Trying to Bring Tropical Americas to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Former Imagineer Joe Rohde just shared a fascinating behind the scenes nugget that adds a whole new layer to the Tropical Americas land now rising at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. According to Rohde, this wasn’t a brand-new idea that suddenly appeared after DinoLand closed. It was a vision he and his team chased for 15 years, often with plans that involved completely gutting DinoLand U.S.A. to make room for a lush, culturally rich Tropical Americas expansion.
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Rohde shared the story on Instagram while reflecting on DinoLand’s legacy, making it clear that while he holds deep affection for the land, Tropical Americas had long been part of the park’s creative DNA. Even though the version currently under construction at Tropical Americas was finalized after his retirement, he says it carries forward many of the same motivations his team had years ago. He also revealed that he has been invited back from time to time to consult on the project, a quiet nod to how closely the new land aligns with his original intent.
While acknowledging that the business realities around theme park development have changed, Rohde had nothing but praise for the Imagineers bringing Tropical Americas to life today. He highlighted their deep research, attention to detail, and dedication to Animal Kingdom’s core mission of authenticity and storytelling. In his words, parks exist to create memories, not just physical spaces, and while DinoLand created memories for an entire generation, Tropical Americas will create its own, even if its audience ends up being different.
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Rohde ended on a note that will resonate with fans of history and culture, pointing to early models and renderings of the Maya pyramid featured in D23 presentations. If you appreciate pre-Columbian civilizations, he says, the depth and quality are already there. In other words, this land has been a long time coming, and for those who get it, it really gets it.
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