Josh D’Amaro steps into Disney’s CEO throne on March 18, 2026, succeeding Bob Iger after a rollercoaster succession saga. The 54-year-old theme parks maestro, who’s turned Disney Experiences into a $32B powerhouse, inherits a magic kingdom facing dragons: AI eating creativity, parks losing crowds, and Washington whispers. Yet, with his park-builder grit and gamer vision, D’Amaro might just be the storyteller Disney needs to reclaim its enchanted future.
Josh D’Amaro Disney Journey
D’Amaro’s Disney journey began in legal, but exploded in Experiences—overseeing parks, cruises, merch that generated $32.3B in 2025 revenue. He launched Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Avengers Campus expansions, and a massive Abu Dhabi park, Disney’s first big build in a decade. Board unanimously picked him over film execs, betting on his operational steel amid Iger’s creative handover to Dana Walden as Chief Creative Officer.
Iger stays as advisor through 2026, ensuring smooth transition. D’Amaro’s “I don’t know” leadership philosophy—admitting gaps to foster innovation—contrasts Iger’s showman style, signaling a pragmatic era where parks’ profitability anchors Hollywood’s dreams.
Top Challenges: AI, Parks Slump, Political Heat
AI Disruption: Generative AI threatens Disney’s IP fortress—OpenAI’s Sora trained on Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel characters via Disney’s $1B investment. D’Amaro must balance innovation (AI for animation efficiencies) against 2023 strikes’ $6B losses from AI fears. Hollywood guilds eye him warily after past negotiations soured.
Theme Parks Attendance Drop: International visitors to U.S. parks plunged post-pandemic, hurting Q4 2025 profits despite revenue beats. Competitors like Universal’s Epic Universe loom; D’Amaro faces pressure to innovate without endless price hikes alienating families. Stock dipped 7% on announcement amid these headwinds.
Political Pressures: Trump administration critiques Disney’s “woke” content; Jimmy Kimmel Live pulled briefly over Charlie Kirk jabs, sparking backlash. D’Amaro navigates regulators threatening parks deals while keeping creative freedom—echoing Florida’s past battles.
Streaming Wars & Marvel Fatigue Deepen Crisis
Disney+ subscriber churn persists despite bundles; Marvel’s post-Endgame slump continues with mixed box office. D’Amaro, parks-focused, must synergize Experiences with streaming—live park content, IP crossovers—to combat Netflix/Amazon dominance. Walden’s creative oversight helps, but execution falls on him.
Succession drama lingers; board’s James Gorman-led search avoided Chapek 2.0, but investors demand growth beyond parks’ 40% profits.
D’Amaro’s Vision: Games, Global Parks, IP Synergy
Video Games Powerhouse: D’Amaro eyes gaming as Disney’s next frontier—integrating tech into storytelling, bigger Epic Mickey sequels, Fortnite collabs. His pitch to board emphasized games’ $200B market, positioning Disney against Sony/Microsoft.
Global Expansion: Abu Dhabi park anchors Middle East push; more international resorts combat U.S. attendance dips. Cruises get Star Wars zones, merch leverages AI personalization without job cuts.
Experiences-First Synergy: Parks feed films/streaming—Avatar land boosts sequels, Marvel hotels tie-ins revive MCU. Cost discipline from parks ops tackles Hollywood bloat.
D’Amaro’s Style
Unlike Iger’s dealmaker flair, D’Amaro’s “say I don’t know” candor builds trust. Veteran of Disney’s golden eras, he’ll prioritize profitability—parks as cash cow funding riskier films. Walden handles creativity; he executes.
Challenges loom large, but D’Amaro’s track record suggests he’ll navigate them. Disney fans hope this parks visionary recaptures magic amid storms. Watch March 18—new chapter begins.
