Djuan Rivers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Djuan Rivers
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| Born | 1965 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | BA in Economics |
| Alma mater | Emory University |
| Occupation | (Fmr) Vice President, Disney's Animal Kingdom |
Djuan Rivers is an American business leader. He worked for the Walt Disney Company for over 30 years. From 2014 to 2021, he was the Vice President of Disney's Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Before that, he held important roles at Disneyland Paris and the Disney Aulani Resort & Spa in Hawaii. He was one of the highest-ranking African Americans at Disney during his time there.
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Early Life and Education
Djuan Rivers was born in 1965 in Orlando, Florida. This is the same city where Walt Disney World is located. He went to Emory University and studied Economics. In 1987, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree.
Working at Disney
Djuan Rivers spent more than 30 years working for the Walt Disney Company. He started in a management job and worked his way up. He became the General Manager of Disney's Wilderness Lodge. He also served as Hotel Director for the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder cruise ships.
Rivers held many important jobs at Disney. He helped open six resorts in Florida. He also helped launch three resorts at Disneyland Paris. In 2005, he became the Vice President of Downtown Disney in Florida. Two years later, he worked on new business ideas for Disney's Parks and Resorts.
Leading Aulani Resort
In 2008, Djuan Rivers became the Vice President of Disney's Aulani Resort and Spa. This resort is located in Hawaii. He helped manage the building of this large project. He also worked to connect with local communities and learn about Hawaiian culture. This helped make the resort feel truly Hawaiian. Rivers also made sure the resort was built in an environmentally friendly way.
Work at Disneyland Paris and Animal Kingdom
In 2012, Rivers moved to Disneyland Paris. He became the Vice President for Hotels and Business Solutions there.
Then, in 2014, he was named Vice President of Disney's Animal Kingdom. This is a big theme park at Walt Disney World. He helped launch new evening attractions at the park. These included the "Rivers of Light" show. He also helped light up Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Tree of Life at night.
Rivers also helped finish and open the popular Pandora–The World of Avatar area in 2017. This part of the park was very successful. It won awards for its amazing visual effects.
In August 2021, Djuan Rivers received a special honor. His name was put on a window on Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom. He was the first African American to receive this honor.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Djuan Rivers cares about helping others. He serves on the Board of Directors for two charities in Hawaii. These are the Child & Family Service and the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii.
He is also a big fan of sports and adventure. He is trying to climb the Seven Summits. These are the highest mountains on each continent. In 2008, he was one of the first people to do a HALO skydive over Mount Everest. This also made him the first African American to do so.
In 2019, Rivers shared how his travels to Nepal inspired him. His real-life climbing of Mount Everest helped him love the Disney ride Expedition Everest. This ride includes many items and designs from his real adventures.
In January 2021, Rivers announced he would retire from Disney in May. He plans to move to Paris. He hopes to spend his retirement traveling the world. He has already visited over 70 countries.
