{"id":401277,"date":"2026-09-16T07:42:27","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T07:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/401277\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T07:42:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T07:42:27","slug":"joe-rohde-bob-weis-and-leslie-iwerks-to-headline-disney-panels-at-iaapa-expo-in-orlando","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/401277\/","title":{"rendered":"Joe Rohde, Bob Weis, and Leslie Iwerks to Headline Disney Panels at IAAPA Expo in Orlando"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has announced the speakers for its upcoming expo in November, with an impressive slate of panels led by Disney creatives.<\/p>\n<p>Disney Legends\u2019 Signature Sessions at IAAPA Expo<a data-fslightbox=\"1\" data-type=\"image\" aria-label=\"Open fullscreen lightbox with current image\" data-caption=\"Source: IAAPA\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IAAPA-Expo-2021-2-scaled-e1637599074665-696x391-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IAAPA-Expo-2021-2-scaled-e1637599074665-696x391-1.jpg\" alt=\"IAAPA Expo signage\" class=\"wp-image-1493130\"\/><\/a>Source: IAAPA<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to <a href=\"https:\/\/iaapa.org\/about\/press-room\/press-release-iaapa-expo-2026-signature-education-sessions-announced\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">the IAAPA press release<\/a>, the IAAPA Expo \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/iaapa.org\/expos-and-events\/iaapa-expo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">happening November 16 \u2013 20 in Orlando<\/a> \u2014 will feature over 200 educational sessions for professionals in the theme park industry. Four signature sessions will be headlined by famed Disney creatives.<\/p>\n<p><a data-fslightbox=\"1\" data-type=\"image\" aria-label=\"Open fullscreen lightbox with current image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/JoeRohde_MickeyHat.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"1493132\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/JoeRohde_MickeyHat.jpeg\" alt=\"Disney Legend and former Imagineer Joe Rohde\" class=\"wp-image-1493132\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a data-fslightbox=\"1\" data-type=\"image\" aria-label=\"Open fullscreen lightbox with current image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/DLHandcrafted_5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1917\" height=\"1074\" data-id=\"1493133\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/DLHandcrafted_5.jpg\" alt=\"Leslie Iwerks working on her documentary \" disneyland=\"\" handcrafted=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1493133\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Legends 2026 Panel, a staple of the IAAPA Expo, focuses on a \u201cLegends of Disney\u201d trio: <a href=\"https:\/\/d23.com\/a-to-z\/weis-bob\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Bob Weis<\/a>, former president of Walt Disney Imagineering; <a href=\"https:\/\/d23.com\/walt-disney-legend\/joe-rohde\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Joe Rohde<\/a>, Disney Legend and renowned former Imagineer; and <a href=\"https:\/\/wdwnt.com\/2026\/01\/leslie-iwerks-talks-disneyland-handcrafted-documentary-wdw-news-today\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Leslie Iwerks<\/a>, the award-winning filmmaker behind <a href=\"https:\/\/wdwnt.com\/2026\/01\/disneyland-handcrafted-now-streaming-disney-plus-disney-youtube\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Disneyland Handcrafted<\/a> and descendant of Disney Legends\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/d23.com\/walt-disney-legend\/ub-iwerks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Ub Iwerks<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/d23.com\/walt-disney-legend\/don-iwerks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Don Iwerks<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moderated by\u00a0Bob Rogers, founder of BRC Imagination Arts and 2010 IAAPA Hall of Fame inductee, the panel will draw on decades of experience to explore how storytelling drives project development and how strong creative collaboration can transform ideas into thematic environments, ride vehicles, films, and experiences that resonate for generations. Attendees will hear firsthand insights, strategies, and lessons from their careers, along with principles they can apply to their own work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Legends 2026 Panel will take place on November 18 at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n<p><a data-fslightbox=\"1\" data-type=\"image\" aria-label=\"Open fullscreen lightbox with current image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bob-weis-hollywood-studios-window-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bob-weis-hollywood-studios-window-2.jpg\" alt=\"Former Walt Disney Imagineering President Bob Weis receives a commemorative window at Disney's Hollywood Studios\" class=\"wp-image-1493135\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weis will also participate in a separate session with Rogers entitled \u201cDEEP STORY: The Secrets of Transformational Story Making\u201d on the morning of November 16 at 10 a.m. According to the description, they will discuss:<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2026practical techniques, best practices, and ideas for creating transformational experiences that build meaningful connections with audiences and make a measurable impact beyond the visit itself.<\/p>\n<p><a data-fslightbox=\"1\" data-type=\"image\" aria-label=\"Open fullscreen lightbox with current image\" data-caption=\"Source: Andrew Bolstein on LinkedIn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AndrewBolstein_ShanghaiDisneyland.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AndrewBolstein_ShanghaiDisneyland.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1493131\"\/><\/a>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/andrew-bolstein-19179a4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Andrew Bolstein on LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For an international perspective on Disney Parks, <a href=\"https:\/\/connectplus.iaapa.org\/event\/iaapa-expo-2026\/person\/RXZlbnRQZW9wbGVfNDc5MDM5OTA=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Shanghai Disney Resort President Andrew Bolstein<\/a> is leading a Lunch and Learn session on developing experiences that resonate \u201cacross diverse markets, cultures, and operational environments.\u201d The session takes place on November 16 at 12:00 p.m.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Will you be attending the IAAPA Expo? Let us know on social media.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow <a href=\"https:\/\/wdwnt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">WDW News Today<\/a> on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wdwnt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WDWNewsToday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Facebook<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wdwnt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has announced the speakers for its upcoming expo in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":401278,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[159638,159637,32277,33404,159639,159635,159636,139,141,140,89239],"class_list":["post-401277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-andrew-bolstein","tag-bob-weis","tag-iaapa","tag-iaapa-expo","tag-iaapa-expo-2026","tag-joe-rohde","tag-leslie-iwerks","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news","tag-the-walt-disney-company"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=401277"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401277\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/401278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=401277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=401277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=401277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}