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At a crucial time for the Walt Disney Company, it is losing one of the people who is responsible for creating and expanding Disney’s theme park operations.
In an announcement on Linkedin and Instagram this morning, Barbara Bouza announced that she was leaving as President of Walt Disney Imagineering. Bouza had been in the job since 2021, when she replaced Bob Weis.
Barbara Bouza announced she will "wrap up" her work as President of Walt Disney Imagineering this month. Bouza made the announcement in a post on Instagram and LinkedIn. pic.twitter.com/WzIYh9iKIa
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) March 9, 2024
Related: Disney Walks Back Another of Iger’s Park Expansion Announcements
In making her announcement, Bouza said that she believes Disney Imagineering will be in good hands with Chief Creative Officer Bruce Vaughn.
During her three years as the President of Walt Disney Imagineering, Barbara Bouza oversaw the expansion of several of Disney’s theme parks around the globe.
According to her bio on Disney’s website, she oversaw Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris and Disney California Adventure, the Disney Wish ship for Disney Cruise Line, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON: Lightcycle / Run at Walt Disney World Resort, World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland, and Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort.
But this loss comes at a critical time for Disney theme parks as it faces unprecedented headwinds and competition. Fans are becoming increasingly disillusioned with Disney’s lack of concrete expansion plans at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Credit: Disney
This week, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that Disney “could build seven new lands in its existing park space.” However, the Walt Disney Company quickly walked back, saying that Iger meant they could not and that the company had plans to build seven new lands.
Just yesterday, Disney also walked back another one of Iger’s comments on the expansion of Disneyland. Iger said that the new expansion would include an “Avatar park” similar to the one at Disney World. But once again, Disney walked that back, saying it would only be an “Avatar experience.”
With only Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to look forward to and Universal set to open Epic Universe, Disney fans are disappointed. And now, with Bouza leaving the company, it appears the Disney Imagineers are in for a shakeup.
Barbara Bouza came to the Walt Disney Company in 2020. Prior to that, she was the co-managing director and principal for Gensler Los Angeles.
Credit: Disney
In her farewell statement, she wrote:
It is bittersweet as I wrap up my work as President of Walt Disney Imagineering this month before I create an even more significant impact on the world. Stay tuned! WDI will be in excellent hands with my partner, Bruce Vaughn, Chief Creative Officer, who is an exceptional creative leader.
Bruce Vaughn began working for Disney in 1993. He left to work for Airbnb, only to return to Disney Imagineering in 2023.
Now, with a new head of Disney Imagineer, it remains to be seen what projects Bob Iger and Josh D’Amaro will have waiting for Disney fans.
