Disney Legend Joe Rohde is set to release a new book titled Floating Mountains on September 8, 2026. The 320-page work serves as both a personal memoir and a guide for people looking to understand the creative process.
Joe Rohde went on social media yesterday saying he would be making an announcment probobly friday. “Hi. This is a kind of advance promo for an upcoming announcement. Sorry to be coy, but we must coordinate our efforts. Stay tuned. Probably Friday.” But, Disney Books and other book publishing sites have listed the book as of yesterday.
Rohde is widely recognized for his work as an experienced architect at Disney. He led the massive undertaking of designing Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. His new book looks at how those big projects came together. It also covers smaller personal moments, like building detailed sand castles and working on stage designs for the Coachella music festival.
The book explores where ideas come from and how they grow into something real. Rohde shares what he has learned about working with other people to build things that matter. He explains that creativity is not just a solo act but something that thrives when a team works well together.
Floating Mountains aims to help readers connect their own passions with the world around them. It offers advice on how to find a central theme for a project and how to organize a group of people to reach a shared goal.
Whether someone is leading a business team or pursuing a personal hobby, the book provides a look into the mind of a designer who spent decades making fantasy worlds feel real. It focuses on the practical steps of turning a vision into a physical space.
Readers can expect a deep dive into the lessons Rohde gathered during his childhood and his long career at Disney. The release will be a resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the art of storytelling through design.
Floating Mountains – Joe Rohde September 8th, 2026
From Disney Books: Disney Legend and Imagineer Joe Rohde unlocks the secrets of creativity in this powerful exploration of imagination, innovation, and life lessons for turning vision into reality.
In this inspiring narrative, Disney Imagineer and experience architect Joe Rohde offers a master class in creativity: where it comes from, how it thrives, how to harness it to shape extraordinary experience, and the best way to work within creative teams.
Using real-life experiences from his childhood and career (at Disney and beyond), Rohde delves into the mysteries of the creative mind and unravels how a team of creatives can work in harmony to produce masterful works of art.
From building Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park to building a sand castle replica of Rome to designing stages at Coachella, Rohde’s own life experiences color his theories on creativity—from how creativity is born to finding unifying creative themes to team hierarchy and community building.
Equally useful as a business book as it is a tool for expanding your own creative expression, Floating Mountains provides guidance for connecting your personal creative pursuits with the larger world.
A generous reflection that illuminates the artistry of one of the greatest creative minds in the 21st century, this is a resource for all those in creative ensembles and lifelong learners looking to make a meaningful impact on the world.
Disney Legend Joe Rohde Announces New Book ‘Floating Mountains’ Coming Soon
