As chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Josh D’Amaro oversees Disney’s global theme parks and cruise line, as well as its global consumer products operations. This includes the world’s leading licensing business across toys, apparel, homeware, digital games and apps, the world’s largest children’s print publisher, Disney stores across the world, and the shopDisney online platform.
D’Amaro previously served as president of Walt Disney World Resort. He was responsible for leading all areas of business for the resort’s four theme parks, two water parks, 28 resort hotels, four golf courses, two spas, transportation system, Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and the Disney Springs entertainment, shopping and dining complex.
He led a cast of more than 75,000, the largest single-site workforce in the US. He also oversaw the beginning of the attraction’s biggest expansion in the last 20 years. This included the launch of the Disney Skyliner aerial transportation system, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. Additionally, D’Amaro started the development of plans for Disney World’s 50th anniversary in 2021.
“There’s no limits to where we are going,” D’Amaro said at D23 Expo 2022. “When I look back over our first 100 years, what jumps out at me is how we are just constantly reinventing ourselves, telling new stories for brand-new generations. You all know this: we need those stories more than ever. And that’s a lesson we take straight from Walt. He believed in the power of storytelling.”
Before becoming president of Disney World, D’Amaro served as president of Disneyland Resort. He also launched Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge there, and began the development of Avengers Campus. He started his career at Disney in 1998 with a number of leadership roles. He was senior VP of commercial strategy for Disney World and worked as VP of Disney’s Animal Kingdom as it underwent the largest expansion in its history.