Alright, buckle up, fellow theme park warriors, because there’s a big shake-up at the top of the Mouse House. Bob Iger, the guy who came back to try and right the ship, is officially handing over the CEO reins to Josh D’Amaro in March 2026. D’Amaro, you might know him as the head of Disney Experiences, which means he’s been in charge of *our* parks, cruises, hotels – basically everything that costs us an arm and a leg.
Now, when big corporate news like this drops, my first thought isn’t, ‘Oh, how interesting for the shareholders.’ Nope. It’s always, ‘What does this mean for my family’s next vacation budget?’ Because let’s be real, going to Disney these days feels less like a fun trip and more like a financial endurance test.
D’Amaro has been with Disney for nearly three decades, rising through the ranks. He’s the guy who oversaw the development of big-name stuff like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Avengers Campus. Remember when those opened? Massive buzz, sure. But also, massive price hikes across the board. The transcript says his division alone pulled in a cool $36 billion in annual revenue last year. That’s a huge pile of cash, but it sure hasn’t translated into cheaper tickets or more affordable churros for us. In fact, it’s felt like the opposite.
Bob Iger, bless his heart, came back with a mission to fix things, including ‘expanding Disney Experiences.’ And what did that expansion look like? More ‘premium’ offerings, more pay-to-play options like Genie+, and price tags that make your eyes water. So, if D’Amaro was Iger’s ‘generous mentorship’ project, as D’Amaro himself puts it, should we really expect a dramatic shift in direction when it comes to park affordability? I’m already hearing folks online say, ‘Let the butt kissing begin,’ which pretty much sums up the cynicism out there.
They also brought in Dana Walden as President and Chief Creative Officer. Her job is all about ‘storytelling and creative expression.’ That sounds great on paper. But will it translate to better experiences that justify the cost, or just more stuff to buy? Will she actually make the Disney+ streaming experience feel like less of a drain on our wallets when we’re already paying for cable *and* multiple streaming services? The commenter who said, ‘Streaming is not anywhere close the same cost as cable unless you decide to subscribe to everything,’ really hits home. We’re getting nickeled and dimed everywhere.
The big question hanging over all of this is simple: Will D’Amaro, a parks guy, finally get that families are getting squeezed dry? Or will his ‘keen eye for strategic growth opportunities’ just mean more ‘upcharge’ events, higher resort fees, and even pricier park tickets? The board chairman, James Gorman, talks about D’Amaro’s ‘inspiring leadership and innovation’ and his ‘track record of bringing entertainment properties to life.’ Sounds great for the stock price, maybe. But for the average mom or dad trying to save up for a once-in-a-lifetime trip? Not so much.
The company is talking about sinking $60 billion into capital spending over the next decade, with a good chunk going to parks and cruise lines. ‘They seem to finally get that they can’t shortchange the parks or the milk will run out of that cow,’ one forum commenter noted. And that’s exactly it. They know the parks are their cash cow. But are they going to keep milking it dry by raising prices, or will they invest in *value* that benefits us?
This isn’t about wishing ill on the new CEO. It’s about being realistic. Until we see tangible changes – like a rollback on Genie+, more affordable food options, or transparent pricing that doesn’t feel like a trap – it’s hard to get genuinely excited about a leadership change. For now, it just feels like we’re swapping out one executive for another, with the same goal of maximizing profit, not necessarily maximizing our vacation value. We’ll be watching D’Amaro’s first moves closely, hoping he remembers the working families who built the magic in the first place.