Meet the Highflying Senior Exec Making Waves at Walt Disney World

Published by Kunbi Tinuoye at May 17, 2016

A 28-year Disney veteran

A 28-year Disney veteran, Rivers, now 51, started out at an entry-level managerial position skillfully working his way up to sought-after executive positions, including stints overseas. In 2008, the ambitious Emory University economics graduate was named Vice President of Disney Vacation Club Hawaii. In 2012, Rivers took on the post of Vice President Hotels and Business Solutions for Disneyland Paris.

His role at the helm of Animal Kingdom comes as the theme park continues to evolve, with expanded attractions and first time ever extended park hours scheduled to kick off this summer.

The spirited community of Discovery Island comes together to celebrate their love of the natural world with the Discovery Island Carnivale. This nightly experience will captivate guests with lively music, jubilant dance, vibrant costumes, stilt walkers and tasty culinary creations – winding from one end of the island to the other. (David Roark, photographer at Walt Disney World Resort: Animal Kingdom)

“For the last 18 years Disney’s Animal Kingdom has produced amazing products for our guests and offered amazing experiences but we have also limited all that to the daytime hours,” he added. “We are now transitioning to the night and when Disney’s Animal Kingdom falls underneath the stars we’re really creating an environment that’s unlike any other place on the planet.”

The highlight of these new experiences is a breathtaking musical nighttime show called Rivers of Night. With a waterway as its stage, the innovative new production celebrates the magic of animals, humans, and the natural world with a blend of performers, floating lanterns, and theatrical animal imagery.

Other additions include opportunities for guests to explore Kilimanjaro Safaris at night, more attractions staying open at nightfall and new additions at the Harambe Village and Discovery Island areas of Animal Kingdom.

“Rivers of Light,”the majestic nighttime jewel, coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom creates an illuminating musical experience for guests. Currently in development with a premiere date to be announced soon, “Rivers of Light” will celebrate the magic of animals, humans and the natural world with a blend of performers, floating lanterns and theatrical animal imagery. (David Roark, photographer at Walt Disney World Resort Animal Kingdom)

Rivers is one of the most senior African-Americans at Disney

The theme park’s iconic Tree of Life will also undergo extraordinary “awakenings” throughout the evening with high-tech projections of nature scenes coming to life on the tree. For the summer, Discovery River will become the stage for music and pageantry in a limited-engagement show inspired by Disney’s hit live-action film The Jungle Book.

In addition to the diverse new entertainment offerings, guests will enjoy Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s new signature eatery, Tiffins. Open for both lunch and dinner, this new signature dining experience will celebrate the art of traveling and include waterfront views from both indoor and outdoor seating areas.

Rivers, who reports directly to the President of Walt Disney World Resort’s president George Kalogridis, is one of the most senior African-Americans at Disney. He is clearly deeply passionate about everything Disney has to offer.

“The idea of creating these wonderful experiences is for our guests to experience the fabulous things they do during the day and then also add these incredible elements at night. The whole transformation is something that’s really turned out to be great.”

The nighttime offerings at Animal Kingdom are the first phase of the theme park’s largest expansion to date. A new fully immersive land, Pandora – The World of Avatar, is scheduled to open next year.

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Each evening, the popular Kilimanjaro Safaris daytime experience is artfully bathed in the glow of sunset with special lighting allowing guests to explore this Disney’s Animal Kingdom attraction well into the night. During the expedition, guests can now encounter the nighttime behavior of the wildlife and better tune into the unique vocalization of the animals. (Todd Anderson, photographer at Walt Disney World Resort Animal Kingdom)

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Kunbi Tinuoye

Kunbi Tinuoye is the founder and CEO of UrbanGeekz. Previously, she worked as a News Correspondent for NBC’s theGrio. Prior, she was a senior broadcast journalist for the BBC in London. Tinuoye currently sits on the SXSW Pitch Advisory Board and CES Conference Advisory Board. She is a key player in the Atlanta tech startup ecosystem and serves as a mentor for Comcast NBCUniversal’s The Farm Accelerator. Tinuoye has received several awards and accolades, including being honored with a Resolution from the Georgia Legislative.