Jon Snoddy

Jon Snoddy leads the Research & Development Studio for Walt Disney Imagineering. In this role, Jon oversees the diverse mix of artists, designers, engineers, and scientists working to invent the future of the Disney theme Parks & Resorts through new creative tools, interactive technologies, and entertainment techniques.

Jon began his Disney career in 1987, after transferring from Lucasfilm to help create the effects for the 4D film attraction Captain EO. Jon led ride system development for Disneyland’s Indiana Jones™ Adventure and supervised the technology behind DisneyQuest’s virtual-reality adventure Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride. Jon left Disney in 1995 to pursue entrepreneurship, starting multiple companies specializing in interactive, videogame, and social media experiences.

Jon’s passion for big projects that “only Disney can do” brought him back to Imagineering in 2009. Today, Jon leads the R&D Studio in the development of new immersive special effects, interactive living characters, Audio-Animatronics® figures, sustainable design practices, collaborative tools, and participatory entertainment experiences. Through these and other innovations, Jon and his team seek to create novel and memorable theme park experiences that will surprise and delight millions of Disney guests around the world.