John Larena
Creative Director
Walt Disney Imagineering
John Larena is a creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering responsible for creating vivid stories, designing and overseeing the fruition of attractions through opening day. Most recently, he supported the development of the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction which opened at Disneyland Resort in January 2020 and which puts guests in the middle of an epic battle between the Resistance and the First Order.
Before joining Walt Disney Imagineering, John spent 12 years as a production designer for 24 films including “Cloud 9,” “The Butcher”and “The Haunting of Molly Hartley.” During his time with the Walt Disney Company, John has worked on several projects, including the Star Tours refresh in 2011 and Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure in Shanghai Disneyland, where he served as a designer. John earned his bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Southern California in 1994.