The Walt Disney Company is heading into another moment of transition — one that arrives with equal parts anticipation and unease among theme park fans.
In just days, longtime chief executive Bob Iger will once again step aside, ending a second tenure that reshaped the entertainment giant during a turbulent era. His successor, Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro, now prepares to take the company’s top job.
Leadership transitions at Disney rarely pass quietly. The company’s theme parks in particular — spanning Florida, California, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai — sit at the center of the conversation whenever executive roles shift.
Fans have spent years debating the direction of Disney Experiences, the division overseeing parks, resorts, cruise ships, and consumer products. The department has weathered a series of controversial changes, including the closure of Rivers of America at Magic Kingdom, the transformation of Splash Mountain, and the loss of Muppet*Vision 3D.
Those decisions unfolded during D’Amaro’s tenure leading Disney Experiences. Now, with him preparing to move into the chief executive role, another leadership change has arrived — one that is already sparking intense discussion among Disney parks devotees.
A New Leader Steps Into Disney Experiences
Disney confirmed this week that Thomas Mazloum will take over as chairman of Disney Experiences once D’Amaro assumes the CEO position.
The appointment elevates a longtime Disney executive whose career has touched multiple corners of the company’s hospitality and parks operations. Mazloum previously served as president of Disney Signature Experiences before moving into one of the most visible roles in the organization.
In 2025, he became president of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, replacing Ken Potrock.
D’Amaro endorsed the move in an official company statement. “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 in a press release shared by The Walt Disney Company.
“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 promotion places Mazloum in charge of one of Disney’s most lucrative divisions.
Disney Experiences oversees the company’s global theme park empire, cruise line, resort hotels, and retail operations — businesses that collectively generate billions in annual revenue and serve as a cornerstone of the company’s brand.
Yet even before Mazloum formally steps into the role, some Disney fans have begun debating what his leadership could mean for the parks.
Fans Debate Mazloum’s Track Record
The conversation quickly spread across social media following Disney’s announcement.
Many frequent visitors to Disneyland Resort pointed to Mazloum’s relatively brief tenure in Anaheim as a reason for concern. Critics argue that several operational changes during his presidency signaled an increased focus on cost-cutting.
“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 commenters expressed frustration with what they see as a broader corporate mindset shaping Disney’s parks strategy.
“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.”
But not all responses were negative.
Some fans pointed to Mazloum’s reputation for operational discipline and his experience overseeing major hospitality divisions within Disney.
“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.
Others suggested that a results-focused approach may actually help large-scale construction and expansion projects – such as the Avengers Campus expansion at Disneyland Resort and the Cars Land, Monsters, Inc. Land, and Tropical Americas additions to Disney World – stay on track.
“[He’s needed] if you don’t want new construction projects dragging on for years past deadlines,” another user responded.
Another commenter described Mazloum as a leader who takes execution seriously.
“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.”
Supporters also highlighted improvements to ride and attraction maintenance at Disneyland.
“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.”
Some criticism of Mazloum may also reflect confusion over which leadership decisions originated under his watch.
Several changes frequently attributed to him — including the closure of Doctor Strange: Mysteries of the Mystic Arts in Avengers Campus — were kickstarted before his arrival as Disneyland Resort president.
Others pushed back on comparisons between Mazloum and former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, whose tenure drew widespread criticism from fans.
“The problem with Chapek was [that] he came from entertainment and consumer products which is not good for a leader of Parks,” one user wrote. “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 within Disney’s parks and hospitality operations.
Still, as leadership transitions unfold inside one of the world’s most influential entertainment companies, the stakes remain high.
What do you think of Disney’s choice for the new chairman of Disney Experiences?
