What Josh D’Amaro’s Appointment as Disney CEO Means for Disney Parks

The day Disney fans knew was coming has finally arrived. After Bob Iger returned to the helm as Disney CEO, following the ousting of Bob Chapek, it was clear that another would soon take his place. After two years and numerous candidates, Josh D’Amaro will be the Walt Disney Company’s head honcho.

D’Amaro will take over as CEO on March 28, 2026, making for a quick transition from Iger to himself, leading many to believe that D’Amaro has already quietly begun laying the groundwork for his new position within the company.

The main question that remains is what his appointment means for the company, particularly in relation to the parks versus the film division. Will he succeed in the same way past CEOs like Iger, Michael Eisner, and even Walt Disney did, or will it be another disaster like Bob Chapek? Given his track record and strengths, many feel hopeful and cautiously optimistic about the future.

 

Anyone who follows Disney closely, especially the theme parks, knows Josh D’Amaro. Known for his amiable, warm personality, D’Amaro is well-liked among fans and Disney cast members. He is often seen walking in the parks, engaging in discussions with guests, taking photos, and even picking up trash. He’s known for being very present, engaging, and thoughtful, no matter whom he’s speaking with, along with being a genuine Disney fan.

What some may not know is how long D’Amaro has been with the Walt Disney Company, and the number of jobs he’s had. With 28 years under his belt, starting in 1998, D’Amaro has slowly but surely worked his way up through the ranks, mostly in the Parks Division. During his career, D’Amaro had held the following titles:

• Vice President of Sales and Travel Trade Marketing from 1998-2008
• Chief Financial Officer of Disney Consumer Products
• Vice President of Adventures by Disney in 2010
• Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom from 2013-2014
• Chief Commercial Officer of Walt Disney World
• President of Disneyland, from February 2018 to November 2019
• President of Walt Disney World from 2019-2020
• Chairmen of Disney Experiences 2020-present

Of course, D’Amaro has done more than dazzle fans and shareholders with charm. After all, you don’t rise in the ranks on charisma alone. You must be competent and successful with each position, and D’Amaro definitely does not fit into the category of “style over substance.”

 

Over his 28-year tenure, D’Amaro has had successes and failures. No one, not even Walt Disney, is without faults and flaws, and knocks it out of the park one hundred percent of the time.

However, when examining his time as Chairman of Disney Experiences (which includes the theme parks, Aulani, Adventures by Disney, and the Disney Cruise Line), D’Amaro has an impressive track record. David Erickson of Fresh Baked Presents points out projects that happened under D’Amaro’s watch. These include Disneyland Forward, a massive, multi-year expansion for the Anaheim Resort, recent EPCOT additions, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway in Disneyland and Hollywood Studios, World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland, Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure, Zootopia Land in Shanghai Disneyland, and the expansion of the Disney Cruise Line.

He also spearheaded exciting future projects for Walt Disney World, such as Villain’s Land in Magic Kingdom, Tropical Americas in Animal Kingdom, and Monstropolis in Hollywood Studios.

 

Joining D’Amaro in a promotion will be Dana Walden, the executive who came over with Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Walden will now be President and Chief Creative Officer. Disney hasn’t had a President in quite a while since Bob Iger became CEO in 2005, so bringing this position back is interesting.

 

Likewise, Chief Creative Officer is a brand-new title, and one that Walden carved out for herself. In this YouTube discussion with YouTubers Orange Grove 55, Theme Park Philosophy, VashSky, and Theme Park Wizard, panelist VashSky notes that Walden essentially tailored this position and what it entails for herself, thanks to her work and accomplishments, and the respect she’s earned from Iger.

 

Since Iger returned as CEO in 2022, it’s long been speculated that his replacement would come down between D’Amaro and Walden. Despite missing out on the top position, Walden has found herself in an equally important role- and one that will likely work in conjunction with D’Amaro.

 

 

While no one would deny the exceptional job Bob Iger did as CEO, many will also assert how well the company ran when they essentially had two people in charge. In other words, though one held a high position, the one right below worked hand in hand, the two balancing each other out.

 

The first of these pairs goes back to the company’s origins with Walt Disney and his brother, Roy. Walt was the creative genius, the man allowed to dream, who gave the company a face, while Roy was the practical one behind the scenes, in charge of making those dreams a reality financially. Michael Eisner, CEO from 1984 to 2005, and Frank Wells, President and Chief Operating Officer from 1984 until his death in 1994, very much mirrored Walt and Roy’s working relationship. Eisner was the creative face of the company, and Wells was the stable and practical counterpart who balanced Eisner out.

 

With Walden’s positions, it’s a strong possibility that she and D’Amaro will bring back that kind of dynamic for the company. However, it will more likely be a divide between what they focus on rather than a creative versus financial type of thing. Both understand fiscal responsibility, but D’Amaro excels and has experience with the Parks, while Walden excels in film and television. Regardless, the potential for the return of this kind of partnership could be a wonderful thing for the company, harkening back to times of tremendous innovation, creativity, and success.

 

D’Amaro shares many similarities with his predecessor Bob Iger, as well as beloved past CEOs Michael Eisner and even Walt Disney himself. He’s charming and friendly and makes himself available to the public. Moreover, he possesses a willingness to accept criticism and work to improve operations when fans express dissatisfaction. This proves to be a stark contrast to Bob Chapek, who was fired as CEO prematurely after multiple missteps. Indeed, Chapek lacked the warmth and humility necessary for this position.

David Erickson of Fresh Baked Presents explains, “[Bob Chapek] did not give you the sense that he was thinking about you. He gave you the sense that he was thinking only about himself. He was absolutely a terrible face for the company.”

 

Moreover, Erikson says, “D’Amaro is probably the best face that I could think of, maybe even better than [Michael] Eisner. Eisner was great face…He was good on the camera. He projected a sense of enthusiasm, belief, and optimism for the company, which resonated a great deal with fans and with guests.” What fans loved in Eisner, D’Amaro also, unmistakably, possesses.

 

On a panel discussion of YouTubers including Orange Grove 55, Capture the Magic, and Theme Park Philosophy, Orange Grove 55 said, “Risk-taking is built into the fabric of Disney,” and that D’Amaro is also very “socially intelligent,” especially compared to previous CEO Bob Chapek.

 

In another Orange Grove 55 panel, he reiterates how much the Walt Disney Company needs what is called a “front-facing CEO,” and that Josh D’Amaro is an excellent choice. He states, “You need to be a front-facing executive to run Disney because I think fans, and even the investors, expect that of the Walt Disney Company. If you want to be CEO of Staples, or Pepsi, or State Farm, you can be a behind-the-scenes business [person]. But I think for Disney…people want someone who can be like an ambassador.”

 

D’Amaro’s similarities and close relationship with Bob Iger will prove crucial in his transition into the role of CEO. Consequently, fans should expect the status quo, at least on the onset, when it comes to the Parks and the film division.

 

However, D’Amaro also presents himself as a risk taker and someone open to change and guest feedback. The imminent changes coming to Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland prove that those at the top listened to guest feedback and are changing things accordingly. With D’Amaro now fully in charge, I think fans can expect more changes of this nature. In other words, small yet significant ones that take into consideration what guests want.

 

Ultimately, D’Amaro takes guest satisfaction seriously, something that Walt Disney and Michael Eisner did as well. In an interview with Harvard Business Review, D’Amaro states, “Anything I can do to help more guests say they love Disney is a valuable use of my time.” This desire to please the genuine Disney fans and not just shareholders demonstrates a certain level of care sorely lacking in the entertainment industry today.

 

Going forward, there are several things D’Amaro could do to make his mark, create a legacy, and endear himself to fans.
In this YouTube discussion, Capture the Magic notes how guest satisfaction may become an even bigger issue than it has been in recent years, with price increases and perceived value decreases being the norm. So, D’Amaro’s first moves as CEO will most likely be Disney Parks-related.

 

Additionally, Theme Park Philosophy suggests that reigning in operational costs across the board remains imperative.One significant act that D’Amaro could do would be to eliminate the reservation system from the domestic parks. The pandemic deemed this necessary, but those parameters no longer exist. Instead, most speculate that reservations have become a money-saving tactic to avoid employing more cast members than necessary on any given day. However, fans have been clamoring for the system to end. D’Amaro would score huge points if he were to eliminate them.

 

Moreover, the idea of increased prices not matching value could be solved with many of the perks that have gone by the wayside returning. These include the Magical Express in Walt Disney World and early entry for hotel guests at Disneyland. If the latter can’t return, it’d be a good compromise to give hotel guests a Lightning Lane for every day of their visit, not just one, and for one of the premier attractions (Radiator Springs Racers and Rise of the Resistance) to be eligible.

 

Other options that could win over fans and cement D’Amaro’s legacy include a long coming redo of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, more frequent discount ticket deals, including 2-days deals, more discounts for Magic Key Holders, perks or discounts for staying at a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel, and not just a Disney Resort, and to revisit the egregious changes to the Disability Access Service (or DAS system). He could also incorporate more nods to Walt Disney throughout the parks and create more special recognitions for cast members. Lastly, a big complaint guests have is the necessity to be on their phones while in the parks. If fans could limit their phone usage, that would create a tremendous amount of goodwill.

 

What D’Amaro will do as CEO remains to be seen. Still, as Princess Anna would say, for the first time in what feels like forever, the future of the Disney company seems bright, hopeful, and exciting.