The themed entertainment world has lost one of its most talented designers. Eddie Sotto, the former Senior Vice President of Concept Design at Walt Disney Imagineering, passed away on December 17, 2025, at the age of 67. His legacy lives on in the places he created—spaces where architecture, storytelling, and human emotion converge to create something truly magical.
Beginnings
Born in Hollywood, Sotto grew up fascinated by Disneyland and as a teenager built a 1/200 scale model of the park based on plans obtained from WED Enterprises. That childhood passion would become the foundation of an extraordinary career. Design was in his blood—his aunt worked as a costume illustrator for Paramount and Disney, while his grandfather was a scenic artist at MGM Studios.
At just 21, while working as an appliance salesman at Sears, Sotto took a leap of faith. He pursued his passion for modelmaking and storyboarding, landing a position at Knott’s Berry Farm where he designed the beloved Wacky Soap Box Racers and contributed to Camp Snoopy. It was the beginning of a career that would reshape how many experience designed environments.
Disneyland Paris: A Masterpiece in Detail
Sotto’s defining achievement came when he was hired by Walt Disney Imagineering to lead the design of Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris. Drawing from his fascination with early 20th-century architecture and Americana, Sotto infused Main Street with warmth and humanity, imagining every brick, lamp post, and storefront to evoke nostalgia and optimism.
Under Sotto’s direction, Disneyland Paris introduced a new level of detail and immersion that would go on to influence theme park design worldwide. The covered arcades flanking Main Street—a practical response to European weather—became showcases for his storytelling genius. The Liberty Arcade, one of two arcades in Disneyland Paris, features elaborate displays about the construction of the Statue of Liberty, creating a cultural bridge between France and America that was both educational and deeply engaging.
Sotto also proposed placing the Disneyland Hotel at the park’s entrance, marking the first time Disney sited a hotel within a theme park. It was a bold innovation that demonstrated his willingness to challenge convention in service of the guest experience.
An Inspiring Talent
Sotto spent 13 years with Walt Disney Imagineering, eventually being named Senior Vice President of Concept Design in 1994. His work spanned multiple Disney parks and represented over $500 million in built projects. Beyond Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris, his creative fingerprints can be found on:
- Early development of the groundbreaking Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland
- Mission: SPACE at EPCOT, pushing the boundaries of simulator technology
- Three years directing master planning for Tokyo Disneyland, where he helped create Pooh’s Hunny Hunt—the first trackless dark ride system, which he called one of the most fun and challenging projects of his career
- Leadership of Disney’s Concept Development Studio, a “think tank” that explored emerging technologies including smart wireless toys, augmented reality attractions, and interactive experiences
Beyond the Mouse
In 2000, Sotto founded SottoStudios, applying his philosophy of experiential design far beyond theme parks. His firm created immersive brand experiences for Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, Virgin Galactic, Wynn Resorts, and many others. He designed the distinctive Encounter Restaurant at LAX and the media-facade architecture for ABC’s Times Square Studios. His collaboration with Embraer on the SkyRanch One private jet concept won the award for Best Private Jet Concept at the 2017 Yacht and Aviation Awards.
Throughout his post-Disney career, Sotto remained a generous educator and thought leader. He spoke at UCLA and SCAD, served as an official speaker for the Walt Disney Family Museum, and was featured prominently in Disney+’s acclaimed documentary series The Imagineering Story. On social media, he regularly shared behind-the-scenes insights and creative philosophy.
Heart for Design
What made Eddie Sotto special wasn’t just his technical mastery or his impressive portfolio—it was his understanding that design is ultimately about human connection. As former Imagineering President Marty Sklar once said of him: “Eddie’s passion for new ideas and one-of-a-kind adventures was a creative leader’s dream.”
Current WDI President Bruce Vaughn remembered him as a fearless innovator who constantly pushed for new ways to incorporate emerging ideas and technologies, never letting convention limit his thinking. Former Imagineer Joe Rohde described him as entirely self-made, building his career through the sheer force of his talent and will.
But perhaps the most telling tribute came from Vaughn’s simple observation: “Our product is emotion, and his genius lives on in the details many people pass by—but always feel.”
That was Eddie Sotto’s gift: creating environments where every detail mattered, where story was woven into architecture, and where guests could feel something real and true. Whether it was the flicker of gaslight on a Parisian arcade or the carefully chosen exhibits within, Sotto understood that great design speaks to the heart.
Legacy
Eddie Sotto leaves behind a wife of 48 years and a son who announced his father’s passing with the poignant reminder: “A dream is a wish your heart makes.”
For those who walk down Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris, who experience the magic of Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, or who have been moved by any of the countless spaces Eddie helped bring to life, his legacy endures. He showed us that the built environment can tell stories, create memories, and touch souls.
In an industry that often chases the next big spectacle, Eddie Sotto remained focused on what truly matters: designing experiences that make people feel something real. His work reminds us that imagination rooted in heart never goes out of style.
The dream continues in every detail he left behind.
“You will find the name Eddie Sotto if you are looking for definitions of Blue Sky, Creative vision, thought leader, funmeister, teacher, friend, and combining all those qualities—Imagineer.” — Bob Weis, former WDI President
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