Former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde has weighed in on one of EPCOT’s enduring World Showcase questions: whether to start in Mexico or Canada. His answer, he said during a New York Comic Con discussion, is neither.
Rohde said he prefers to begin in the Morocco pavilion, located near the middle of World Showcase. He called Morocco arguably his favorite EPCOT pavilion and noted that it is unique among the World Showcase pavilions because it is sponsored by the government of Morocco rather than a company from that country.
Rohde also said the pavilion influenced later Disney projects, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, particularly Harambe. Its detailed architecture and winding streets reflect the kind of immersive environments that became a hallmark of his work.
During the conversation, Rohde also addressed criticism of adult Disney fans. He described the shaming of “Disney adults” as peculiar, comparing it with the broad acceptance of adult fans who travel for sports, movies or music.
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Rohde began working for Disney in the early 1980s and served as the overall creative executive and supervising designer for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. His Disney work includes Expedition Everest, Pandora – The World of Avatar, opening-day EPCOT, Aulani and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission: BREAKOUT! He was named a Disney Legend at the 2024 D23 Ultimate Fan Event.
