Josh D’Amaro is the Chairman of Disney Experiences, a creative engine and powerful growth driver for The Walt Disney Company, responsible for bringing beloved franchises to consumers through products and experiences around the world.
D’Amaro’s portfolio includes Walt Disney Imagineering, the world-renowned team of artists, engineers and storytellers who imagine the future of the guest experience and bring Disney stories to life in new, innovative ways – including its award-winning Research and Development division. D’Amaro also oversees Disney Parks, encompassing 12 theme parks in the United States, Europe and Asia, and Disney Signature Experiences, which offers family travel and leisure experiences beyond the theme parks. This business includes the top-rated Disney Cruise Line – consisting of five ships and two island destinations – as well as Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney and Storyliving by Disney. In addition, he leads Disney Consumer Products, home to the world’s leading licensing business for toys, apparel and home goods – including the acclaimed NatGeo franchise – and the world’s largest children’s print publisher; as well as Disney’s digital games and apps business, including its collaboration with Epic Games to create an all-new interactive entertainment universe. D’Amaro’s scope includes global strategy, finance, operations, marketing, creative development and technology.
With a global team of 185,000 Cast Members, D’Amaro is leading the company’s strategy to turbocharge Disney Experiences, creating groundbreaking experiences for audiences through a 10-year, $60 billion investment in new attractions, lands, hotels, cruise ships and technology.
As Chairman, he partners closely with the company’s film and TV studio creative leads, together with Walt Disney Imagineering, to bring Disney’s most popular and powerful creative assets to life in a way that only Disney can. His affinity for the brand is coupled with a deep respect for our Guests and the Cast Members who create magic every day.
D’Amaro has been instrumental in driving the segment’s tremendous growth and evolution, launching franchise-expanding experiences on both coasts of the United States and across the globe. These include Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the Marvel-themed Avengers Campus, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, World of Frozen, Zootopia, Fantasy Springs and many more, generating excitement and high guest satisfaction.
Under his leadership, Disney Cruise Line is experiencing unprecedented growth and expansion, serving as a powerful ambassador for the Disney brand in ports and markets around the globe beyond its theme parks, including Australia and New Zealand for the first time in 2023. Disney will nearly double the worldwide capacity of its cruise line, adding two ships in fiscal year 2025 and another in 2026, delivering even further growth potential, including a new homeport in Singapore beginning in 2025 that will expand its reach further into the Asia-Pacific region.
Since D’Amaro took the helm in 2020, his team has earned more than 130 awards and accolades, including multiple THEA Awards for innovation and excellence in new attractions and experiences, and industry-best cruise line rankings for many years running from U.S. News & World Report, Travel & Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler and others.
Prior to becoming Chairman, D’Amaro served as both President of the iconic Disneyland Resort and President of Walt Disney World Resort, where he partnered with creative leads to design and develop significant expansion projects, including the comprehensive reimagination of EPCOT, which has transformed the resort.
A graduate of Georgetown University with a degree in business administration, D’Amaro began his career at Disney in 1998 at the Disneyland Resort. Over his 26-year career, he has held leadership positions across the company both internationally and domestically, including Chief Financial Officer for Disney Consumer Products Global Licensing, Chief Commercial Officer for Walt Disney World Resort, and various business planning, strategy, marketing, creative and operations roles.
D’Amaro serves on the National Board of Directors for Make-A-Wish America, a charity that has partnered with Disney to fulfill nearly 155,000 wishes over the last 44 years. He is also a member of the United States Travel Association (USTA) Leadership Roundtable.
Outside of work, Josh continues to enjoy creative and athletic pursuits, and traveling with his family.
To learn more about D’Amaro, follow him on Instagram and LinkedIn.