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Bob Weis | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Weis |
| Alma mater | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (BS) |
| Employer(s) | Walt Disney Imagineering (1980–2022) Gensler (2023–present) |
| Website | www |
Robert Weis is an American amusement park designer, architect, and author who served as president of Walt Disney Imagineering from 2016 to 2021. During his four-decade career as an Imagineer, he oversaw the design and development of Disney's Hollywood Studios and the Shanghai Disney Resort.
Weis joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 1980, relocating to Japan to work on Tokyo Disneyland and later playing a major role in the conceptual design of Tokyo DisneySea. He led the expansion of Disney California Adventure, including the addition of Cars Land, and the creative development of the Disney Wish. Weis became the Global Ambassador for Imagineering in 2022, before retiring to join the architectural firm Gensler.
Early life and education
[edit]Weis was raised in Southern California, where he visited Disneyland on his birthday every year.[1]
While studying at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Weis worked as a Disneyland cast member, selling popcorn and ice cream.[1] After starting as a theatre major, he graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 1980 with a degree in architecture.[2]
Career
[edit]Themed entertainment
[edit]Shortly after graduating from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Weis joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 1980. Within eight months of joining the company, he had relocated to Japan to join the team building Tokyo Disneyland.[1] Following his leadership role in the conceptualization and design of Tokyo DisneySea,[3] he left Imagineering to start his own consulting firm, Design Island.[4] As a consultant, Weis worked on multiple museum projects with the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the Smithsonian Institution, and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.[5]
Weis returned to Imagineering to oversee creative redevelopment of Disney California Adventure, which was less popular than the main Anaheim park Disneyland.[5] This five year endeavor included the addition of the World of Color nighttime show, a redesign of the park's entrance, and the creation of Cars Land.[6][7] From 2008 to 2016, he led the creative team that designed and built the Shanghai Disney Resort. Over the course of his career, Weis has been involved with leading projects totaling more than $30 billion in value.[8][9]
After Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016, Weis was named president of Walt Disney Imagineering.[10][1] During his tenure as president, he was involved with multiple Star Wars projects that followed the acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney Company.[11] These included the themed area Galaxy's Edge in California and Florida,[12][13] the rides Millennium Falcon – Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance,[14] and the experiential hotel Galactic Starcruiser.[11][15] He also oversaw the development of the ride Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway at Walt Disney World.[14]
Weis left the position of president to become the company's Global Imagineering Ambassador in 2022,[16] a position previously held by Marty Sklar, before retiring from the company at the end of that year.[17]
Architecture
[edit]Following his retirement from Walt Disney Imagineering, architectural firm Gensler announced that Weis would join the company as its new Global Immersive Experience Design Leader.[18][19][20] Weis's new role at the firm was reported in connection with Gensler designing the Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas.[21]
In 2024, Savannah College of Art and Design named Weis as their Executive in Residence.[22][9]
Books
[edit]In 2024, Weis's nonfiction book Dream Chasing was published by Disney Editions,[23] with a foreword by Bob Iger.[6] That same year, he published a young adult novel about The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland called Ghost Dog.[24]
Bibliography
[edit]- Dream Chasing: My Four Decades of Success and Failure with Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Editions, 2024
- Ghost Dog: A Novel, The Old Mill Press, 2024
Awards and honors
[edit]In November 2020, Weis was announced as the winner of the Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Outstanding Achievement by the Themed Entertainment Association.[3][14][7]
In 2021,[2] Weis was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters by his alma mater, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, for his professional and philanthropic accomplishments.[25]
At a 2023 ceremony, Walt Disney World unveiled an honorary window at Disney's Hollywood Studios for Weis.[26] Themed after the former Walt Disney Imagineering president, it reads, "Flower Street Pictures, Bob Weis, Studio Head, Our Productions Entertain the World."[27]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Steele, Bruce (October 20, 2022). "Bob Weis to Retire from Imagineering After 42 Years". D23. The Walt Disney Company. Archived from the original on January 14, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ a b Fowler, Clay (May 11, 2021). "CPP to Award Honorary Doctorate to President of Walt Disney Imagineering". CPP News. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Deitchman, Beth (November 19, 2020). "EXCLUSIVE: Walt Disney Imagineering's Bob Weis Offers an Inside Look at What's to Come at Disney Parks Across the Globe". D23. The Walt Disney Company. Archived from the original on January 15, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ Wolf, Kendall (September 14, 2025). "Bob Weis, former president of Disney Imagineering, talks Shanghai's Pirates and why theme parks matter - Attractions Expert Q & A". Attractions Magazine. Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ a b Merlin, Lalla (July 20, 2023). "Bob Weis: a life in themed entertainment & the next chapter". blooloop. Archived from the original on November 18, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ a b Gonzaga, Samantha (November 27, 2024). "Bob Weis, Former Walt Disney Imagineering President, Talks 'Dream Chasing'". CPP News. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
- ^ a b "Disney Parks Receives Industry Honors". The Walt Disney Company. November 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 18, 2026. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- ^ Carlisle, Candace (February 7, 2023). "Gensler's Hiring of Ex-Disney Executive Spotlights Importance of Experiential Design". CoStar Group. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Bea (April 24, 2024). "Former Imagineering president Bob Weis joins SCAD in advisory role". blooloop. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ Barnes, Brooks (January 16, 2016). "Disney Names Bob Weis as New President of Imagineering Unit". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- ^ a b Schulman, Pansy (February 24, 2023). "Interview with Bob Weis, Global Leader of Immersive Experience Design at Gensler". Architectural Record. Archived from the original on March 26, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ Eades, Mark (August 8, 2016). "Walt Disney Imagineering reduces staff after Shanghai Disneyland opens". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on August 16, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
- ^ Dammann, Luke (December 1, 2021). "Disney's Imagineering President Steps Away, New Creative In Charge". Inside the Magic. Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- ^ a b c Niles, Robert (November 19, 2020). "Exclusive: Interview With Walt Disney Imagineering's Bob Weis". Theme Park Insider. Archived from the original on March 6, 2026. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ "Driving Force Behind Disney's Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Leaves WDI for Gensler, Joining Former Chief Bob Weis". WDWMagic. June 12, 2024. Archived from the original on October 13, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ Taylor, Drew (November 30, 2021). "Walt Disney Imagineering's Bob Weis Moves to Consultant Role, Barbara Bouza Named President". TheWrap. Archived from the original on January 13, 2026. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
- ^ Tapp, Tom (October 20, 2022). "Disney Imagineering's Bob Weis Stepping Down After 42 Years At The Company". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 30, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ Bevil, DeWayne (January 12, 2023). "Bob Weis, former Imagineering chief, takes position with Gensler firm". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ Berg, Nate (January 12, 2023). "The world's biggest architecture firm just hired Disney's former head Imagineer". Fast Company. Archived from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ Walsh, Niall Patrick (January 13, 2023). "Former Walt Disney Imagineering head Bob Weis joins Gensler". Archinect. Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ Bennett, James (June 11, 2023). "Universal Chooses Designer for Amusement Park". The Dallas Express. Archived from the original on May 26, 2026. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- ^ "SCAD Names Bob Weis Executive in Residence". Atlanta Jewish News. May 15, 2024. Archived from the original on July 26, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ Niles, Robert (October 1, 2024). "Niles: Former Imagineer shares the hard work behind the magic in 'Dream Chasing'". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on July 4, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ Betti, Tony (June 21, 2025). "Former Head of WDI Bob Weis Shows Up on "Good Morning America" to Discuss "Dream Chasing"". Laughing Place. Good Morning America. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- ^ "Robert "Bob" Weis". California State University. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Archived from the original on September 15, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
- ^ Ace, Shannen (May 1, 2023). "PHOTOS: Disney's Hollywood Studios Window Dedicated to Former Imagineer Bob Weis Installed". WDW News Today. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
- ^ Carter, Ashley (May 1, 2023). "Former Disney Imagineering president Bob Weis receives window at Hollywood Studios". Spectrum News 13. Archived from the original on July 27, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
Further reading
[edit]- Davis, Rebecca (November 7, 2019). "Walt Disney Imagineering President Bob Weis Welcomes More China Theme Parks". Variety. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- Kleiman, Joe (March 17, 2021). "Bob Weis, collaborative creative pioneer". InPark Magazine. Archived from the original on May 19, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2026.