Josh D'Amaro

Early Life and Education

Josh D'Amaro was born in the 1970s and grew up with an appreciation for Disney's storytelling and theme park experiences that would later shape his career trajectory. While Disney has not publicly disclosed extensive details about D'Amaro's early life, his professional journey reflects a combination of business acumen and genuine passion for the Disney brand that has been evident throughout his tenure with the company.

D'Amaro earned his bachelor's degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, one of the premier hospitality management programs in the United States. This educational foundation provided expertise in operations management, customer experience, and business strategy that would prove instrumental in his later leadership of Disney's parks and experiences division. He later complemented his undergraduate education with an MBA, though the specific institution has not been widely publicized.

Disney Career

Early Positions (1998-2014)

D'Amaro joined The Walt Disney Company in 1998, beginning a career that would span nearly three decades and take him across multiple divisions and continents. His early roles focused on resort operations and strategic planning at Walt Disney World in Florida, where he developed expertise in the complex logistics of operating large-scale hospitality and entertainment venues that serve millions of guests annually.

During his initial years at Disney, D'Amaro earned recognition for operational excellence and innovative thinking about guest experiences. He worked on initiatives to enhance Disney World's resort hotels, improve operational efficiency, and integrate emerging technologies into theme park operations. Colleagues from this period describe D'Amaro as detail-oriented and guest-focused, with an ability to balance operational realities with Disney's high standards for immersive storytelling.

Disneyland Resort President (2014-2018)

In 2014, D'Amaro was appointed President of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, marking his first senior leadership role at Disney. In this position, he oversaw operations of Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, the Downtown Disney shopping district, and three resort hotels. The role positioned him as the public face of Disney's original theme park complex and responsible for maintaining Walt Disney's legacy while modernizing the resort for contemporary guests.

During his tenure as Disneyland Resort President, D'Amaro led several significant projects, including the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in 2019, one of Disney's most ambitious theme park expansions. He also oversaw the transformation of Disney California Adventure's Paradise Pier into Pixar Pier, the introduction of the MaxPass digital FastPass system, and various operational enhancements aimed at managing growing attendance levels while maintaining guest satisfaction.

D'Amaro's leadership style during this period emphasized visibility and accessibility—he was frequently seen in the parks interacting with cast members and guests, a practice that earned him respect within Disney's operations teams and theme park enthusiast communities. His social media presence, particularly on Instagram, offered behind-the-scenes glimpses of Disneyland operations and showcased his genuine enthusiasm for Disney parks, helping humanize corporate leadership in an era of increasing guest scrutiny.

Walt Disney World President (2018-2020)

In 2018, D'Amaro was promoted to President of Walt Disney World Resort, Disney's flagship vacation destination spanning approximately 25,000 acres in Central Florida. This role carried significantly broader responsibilities than his Disneyland position, with oversight of four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom), two water parks, over 25 resort hotels, a shopping and entertainment complex, a sports complex, and supporting infrastructure including transportation systems and utilities.

His time as Walt Disney World President coincided with major investments in the resort's future, including the transformation of EPCOT, expansion of Disney's Hollywood Studios with Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, and planning for numerous hotel developments. D'Amaro focused on operational excellence while balancing capacity challenges, pricing strategies, and the integration of digital tools like the My Disney Experience app and MagicBands that aimed to enhance guest experiences through technology.

Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

Appointment and Scope (2020-2026)

In May 2020, D'Amaro was promoted to Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (DPEP), succeeding Bob Chapek, who had been elevated to Disney CEO. This appointment placed D'Amaro in charge of Disney's most profitable division, which generated over $28 billion in annual revenue pre-pandemic and included global theme park resorts, cruise lines, vacation club properties, consumer products licensing, and games publishing.

D'Amaro assumed leadership of DPEP during an unprecedented crisis—the COVID-19 pandemic had forced closure of all Disney theme parks globally, halted cruise operations, and devastated the division's revenue streams. His initial months focused on developing comprehensive health and safety protocols, coordinating phased reopening strategies across different international markets with varying regulatory requirements, and managing workforce reductions necessitated by prolonged closures.

Pandemic Recovery and Innovation

Under D'Amaro's leadership, Disney Parks implemented industry-leading health protocols that enabled safe reopening while maintaining operational efficiency. He oversaw the introduction of park reservation systems that managed capacity, mobile ordering systems that reduced physical queuing, and virtual queuing technologies that modernized how guests accessed attractions. These pandemic-era innovations permanently altered Disney parks operations and provided templates for post-pandemic guest management.

D'Amaro championed digital transformation initiatives including Disney Genie, a comprehensive trip planning and paid FastPass replacement system that launched in 2021. While Disney Genie received mixed guest reactions due to its complexity and the shift from free to paid line-skipping options, it represented D'Amaro's vision for technology-enhanced experiences and dynamic pricing models that optimize park operations while generating incremental revenue.

Major Projects and Expansions

D'Amaro's tenure as DPEP Chairman has overseen announcement and development of numerous major projects across Disney's global resort portfolio. These include comprehensive EPCOT transformation with new attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the Moana-themed area in EPCOT's World Nature, Tron Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom, and Zootopia-themed lands at international parks.

He led expansion of Disney's cruise fleet with orders for multiple new ships that will nearly double capacity, development of Lighthouse Point (Disney's private destination in the Bahamas), and planning for potential new domestic theme park developments that could include parks in states beyond Florida and California. D'Amaro has also overseen international expansions including Hong Kong Disneyland's Frozen-themed land and continued development of Shanghai Disney Resort.

Pricing Strategy and Guest Relations

D'Amaro's leadership coincided with aggressive pricing increases across Disney parks, including date-based ticket pricing, increased annual pass costs, and introduction of paid services that were previously free. These strategies generated significant revenue growth but also sparked debate about accessibility and whether Disney parks were becoming financially prohibitive for middle-class families who historically formed the core guest demographic.

Despite pricing controversies, D'Amaro maintained his reputation for guest engagement through continued park visits, active social media presence, and public statements emphasizing Disney's commitment to quality and value. He frequently shared personal anecdotes about Disney parks meaning to his own family, positioning pricing strategies as necessary investments in experience quality rather than pure profit maximization.

Appointment as Disney CEO

Selection Process

In December 2025, The Walt Disney Company announced that Josh D'Amaro would succeed Bob Iger as Chief Executive Officer effective March 2026. The appointment concluded a succession planning process that Disney's board of directors had undertaken following Iger's return as CEO in November 2022 after the brief tenure of Bob Chapek. D'Amaro was selected over other internal candidates including Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden, as well as ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.

Disney's board cited D'Amaro's proven leadership of the company's largest division, his operational expertise, his vision for integrating technology with Disney experiences, and his deep understanding of the Disney brand as key factors in the selection. His track record of navigating the parks division through pandemic challenges while maintaining profitability and guest satisfaction demonstrated capabilities that translated to broader corporate leadership.

Strategic Vision

As incoming CEO, D'Amaro has articulated a vision for Disney that emphasizes digital transformation, expansion beyond traditional entertainment boundaries, and meeting consumers where they increasingly spend time—including gaming platforms and virtual experiences. His February 2026 comments about potentially premiering Disney films in Fortnite represent the most concrete example of this strategic thinking, signaling willingness to challenge conventional distribution models.

D'Amaro inherits significant challenges including achieving sustained profitability for Disney+, navigating ESPN's transition amid cord-cutting, maintaining theatrical box office performance in an evolving exhibition landscape, managing Disney's complex relationship with Florida government, and competing with technology giants like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple who have vast resources dedicated to content production and distribution.

Industry analysts suggest D'Amaro's parks background provides unique perspective on consumer behavior, pricing strategy, and operational efficiency that could prove valuable in addressing Disney's corporate challenges. His experience integrating technology into physical experiences may inform approaches to streaming, digital distribution, and emerging platforms that will define entertainment consumption in the late 2020s.

Leadership Style and Philosophy

D'Amaro's leadership approach emphasizes visibility, accessibility, and authenticity. Throughout his Disney career, he has maintained an active presence in the parks, often photographed interacting with cast members and guests rather than remaining in corporate offices. This hands-on style has earned him credibility with Disney's operations teams and created perception of a leader who understands frontline realities.

His social media presence, particularly on Instagram where he shares behind-the-scenes park content, reflects a communications strategy that humanizes corporate leadership while generating enthusiasm for Disney initiatives. D'Amaro frequently acknowledges cast members by name in social media posts, recognizing individual contributions in ways that foster morale and demonstrate appreciation for Disney's frontline workforce.

Colleagues describe D'Amaro as detail-oriented, operationally focused, and genuinely passionate about Disney's legacy. He reportedly spends significant time reviewing guest feedback, analyzing operational metrics, and visiting parks unannounced to assess conditions firsthand. This operational rigor, combined with strategic vision for digital transformation, creates a leadership profile that balances Disney's traditional strengths with necessary evolution for contemporary consumer expectations.

Personal Life

D'Amaro maintains relative privacy regarding his personal life, consistent with Disney's corporate culture that emphasizes professional accomplishments over personal details. He is married with children, and has publicly shared that his family's Disney park visits inform his perspective on guest experiences and help him evaluate initiatives through the lens of typical Disney consumers.

In interviews and public appearances, D'Amaro has described himself as a lifelong Disney fan whose professional role aligns with personal passion. This authentic enthusiasm for Disney parks, characters, and storytelling has contributed to his credibility both within the company and among Disney enthusiast communities who value leaders who genuinely understand and appreciate Disney's cultural significance.

Recognition and Impact

Throughout his Disney career, D'Amaro has received recognition for leadership excellence, operational innovation, and successful navigation of unprecedented challenges. Industry publications including Theme Park Insider and Attractions Magazine have profiled his leadership approach, while business media have highlighted his role in Disney Parks' pandemic recovery and financial performance.

His impact extends beyond financial metrics—D'Amaro has influenced how Disney integrates technology into guest experiences, approached dynamic pricing strategies, managed capacity constraints at increasingly popular parks, and maintained brand standards while pursuing operational efficiency. These contributions have shaped Disney parks' evolution and established frameworks that will influence industry practices for years to come.

As he prepares to assume Disney's CEO role in March 2026, D'Amaro's legacy in parks operations is secure—he led the division through existential pandemic challenges, oversaw major expansions across global properties, and positioned Disney parks for continued growth despite pricing pressures and competitive dynamics. His broader impact on The Walt Disney Company will depend on his ability to translate parks expertise into successful corporate strategy that addresses streaming economics, content production, technological disruption, and evolving consumer preferences that will define entertainment industry success in the coming decades.