A leadership change at The Walt Disney Company is approaching — and the ripple effects are already reaching the theme parks.
Bob Iger’s second stint as CEO is nearly over. After returning in 2022 to stabilize the company following Bob Chapek’s exit, Iger now prepares to leave Disney once again.
His successor will be Josh D’Amaro, the longtime head of Disney Experiences.
That move leaves one of Disney’s most influential roles suddenly open.
Disney Experiences oversees the company’s global theme parks, cruise line, resort hotels, and merchandise operations. The division plays a central role in Disney’s profits and its public image.
Fans follow its leadership closely, often linking executive decisions directly to changes inside the parks.
Those changes have been especially noticeable in recent years.
Magic Kingdom lost Rivers of America. Splash Mountain closed and returned as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Hollywood Studios bid adieu to Muppet*Vision 3D.
Every update fuels debate about the direction of Disney’s parks.
Now, another name has entered that conversation.
Thomas Mazloum Moves Into One of Disney’s Most Powerful Roles
Disney confirmed this week that Thomas Mazloum will become chairman of Disney Experiences.
The promotion follows D’Amaro’s upcoming move into the CEO position.
Mazloum is a longtime Disney executive who has worked across several parts of the company’s hospitality and parks businesses.
He previously served as president of Disney Signature Experiences, overseeing luxury offerings such as Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line.
In 2025, he became president of Disneyland Resort in California.
The role placed him in charge of Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, and the broader Anaheim resort district.
D’Amaro praised Mazloum’s leadership in a company press release.
“Thomas Mazloum is an exceptional leader with a genuine appreciation for our cast members and a proven track record of delivering growth,” D’Amaro said.
“His focus on service excellence, broad international leadership, and strong connection to the creativity that brings our stories to life make him the right leader to guide Disney Experiences into its next chapter.”
The appointment means Mazloum will now oversee Disney’s entire global theme park portfolio.
That includes Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disney Resort.
It also includes Disney Cruise Line and the company’s expanding resort portfolio.
Disney Fans React to the Promotion
The news quickly sparked discussion online among Disney fans.
Many focused on Mazloum’s relatively short tenure as president of Disneyland Resort.
Some guests believe several operational changes during that period reflected cost-cutting decisions.
“Under Thomas Mazloum’s very short tenure as Disneyland’s President we saw significant cuts to restaurant hours, the loss of Magic Mornings, weird cost saving menu changes, the elimination of most mobile checkout locations, major characters being taken off the schedule … and that’s just what I can think of off the top of my head,” wrote one X user.
“I’m not optimistic about what he’s going to do as Chairman of Parks, Experiences and Products. I hope similar changes don’t come to Walt Disney World.”
Under Thomas Mazloum’s very short tenure as Disneyland’s President we saw significant cuts to restaurant hours, the loss of Magic Mornings, weird cost saving menu changes, the elimination of most mobile checkout locations, major characters being taken off the schedule, the loss… https://t.co/EkAYdl0sul
— Matt (@DisneyScoopGuy) March 10, 2026
Other fans questioned Disney’s broader leadership philosophy.
“Uhhhh why can’t we get people in there with imagination and heART!” one X user wrote. “Disney has gotta cut the business nerds and get the art geeks back in.”
Not everyone shared that concern.
Some commenters described Mazloum as a focused leader who prioritizes getting projects completed.
“My dad has worked with him a few times he’s an interesting guy pretty much a man who wants a mission accomplished,” one fan wrote on Reddit.
Another user suggested that kind of approach could help keep Disney projects on schedule.
“[He’s needed] if you don't want new construction projects dragging on for years past deadlines.”
Others highlighted what they see as a strong work ethic.
“From what I’ve heard and seen he is motivated to get what he feels is best done in the correct way once even if it’s more work. … He is someone who would take shoddy work or perception personally and for better or worse hold those accountable who do the work.”
Some fans also pointed to operational improvements at Disneyland Resort.
“It seems like refurbs have increased under him,” one user said. “Which is a good thing. Only a stupid person would think that’s a bad thing.”
Other commenters pushed back against comparisons between Mazloum and the wildly divisive former CEO Bob Chapek, who as chairman of parks and resorts from 2015 to 2020.
“The problem with Chapek was [that] he came from entertainment and consumer products which is not good for a leader of Parks,” one said.
“Chapek was the second coming of Paul Pressler who also did not have a parks background.”
Mazloum, by contrast, has spent much of his career working within Disney’s parks and hospitality operations.
Do you think Thomas Mazloum is the right choice to oversee Disney's theme parks and experiences?
