Bob Iger will be stepping down from Disney tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/4hB1dSDHzl
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 17, 2026
Will his replacement be the third Bob in a row?
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Bob Iger to Resign Tomorrow
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Last: 19 min ago by CharleyKerfeld
Will his replacement be the third Bob in a row?
This has been known for a while. Forget the guys name taking over but it's the guy who's been over the parks for a good number of years now.
That's right I do recall reading about that some time ago on here.
jokershady said:
This has been known for a while. Forget the guys name taking over but it's the guy who's been over the parks for a good number of years now.
It's Josh D'Amaro. He was in charge of the Pandora expansion at Animal Kingdom and then was in charge of the reopening of the parks in 2021. I don't know what his experience in the tv/movie side of things is, but hopefully he'll continue Iger 2.0's mentality of "less is more" for Disney+ series.
I haven't heard much but a few things I have heard is that this guy seems like a good dude. Spends a lot of time with front line employees and stuff like that. So it'll be interesting to see how things go.Sea Speed said:
That's right I do recall reading about that some time ago on here.
Ah here we go. Thanks Grok.
Question: "I've heard that Josh D'Amaro likes to spend a lot of time with front staff members and be "in the trenches" with his employees. Can you speak to this?"
Question: "I've heard that Josh D'Amaro likes to spend a lot of time with front staff members and be "in the trenches" with his employees. Can you speak to this?"
Quote:
Yes, that's a well-documented aspect of Josh D'Amaro's leadership style and personal approach at Disney.
As a long-time Disney veteran who started his career in 1998 at the Disneyland Resort and rose through operational roles (including President of Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort before becoming Chairman of Disney Experiences), D'Amaro has consistently emphasized staying connected to the "front lines"Disney's term for cast members (employees) who interact directly with guests in the parks, resorts, and other experiences.
Multiple reports, interviews, and firsthand accounts from cast members highlight that he regularly spends time walking the parks, engaging with frontline staff, listening to their feedback, and even performing small acts like picking up trash or joining in conversations. For example:
He's known for "listening tours" where he seeks out cast members to hear their thoughts and concerns directly.
During challenging times, like the post-COVID reopenings and layoffs, he was spotted at locations such as Downtown Disney personally apologizing to and consoling affected cast members, allowing them to vent for extended periods.
Observers and insiders have described a "Josh Effect," where guests and especially cast members approach him warmlyhugging him, taking photos, or sharing storiesindicating strong rapport and approachability. One account from walking Disneyland with him noted frontline staff (including cooks and chefs) enthusiastically interacting with him in ways rarely seen with other executives.
In meetings and public statements, he's stressed that leaders who disconnect from guests and frontline cast members "lose touch with reality," and he plans to continue walking the parks even as CEO to maintain that connection.
Former colleagues describe him as having high emotional intelligence, being kind, respectful, disarming, and never "too big" to take input from anyone, regardless of position.
This hands-on, people-first approach aligns with Disney's cultural emphasis on cast members as the "heart" of the experience. It's often contrasted with more detached executive styles, and many cast members and industry observers credit it with building loyalty and helping drive the strong performance of the Experiences division under his watch.
Overall, the reputation you've heard is accurate and widely sharedD'Amaro is seen as genuinely invested in being "in the trenches" with his team, which has contributed to why he's viewed as an inspiring, relatable leader by many inside Disney.
If he bans fat people on scooters and childless couples I would gladly take my family back at the earliest opportunity.
Having just been in Feb, the park experience was damn near a 10 for weekdays. And it was a complete ****show on the weekends. made us want to eject each day there.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if the double-wide stroller scheme would get dropped. It's especially frustrating when you see a big percentage of those riding are 7-10 year olds just being lazy. But their parents just have to coddle them.
Disney is always a microcosm of the good, bad, and disgustingly ugly in America.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if the double-wide stroller scheme would get dropped. It's especially frustrating when you see a big percentage of those riding are 7-10 year olds just being lazy. But their parents just have to coddle them.
Disney is always a microcosm of the good, bad, and disgustingly ugly in America.
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Sea Speed said:
If he bans fat people on scooters and childless couples I would gladly take my family back at the earliest opportunity.
Good way to cut park attendance by 35 percent.
Josh is pretty well loved by Disney fans. My understanding it was between him or the woman who headed the studio side (blanking on her name)
Parks and Experiences generates apparently 70% of operating income. No brainer to promote him
Parks and Experiences generates apparently 70% of operating income. No brainer to promote him
Just make the magic wristbands shock people when they stop walking in the middle of a path. That's what drives me nuts
make crop dusting illegal
Milwaukees Best Light said:Sea Speed said:
If he bans fat people on scooters and childless couples I would gladly take my family back at the earliest opportunity.
Good way to cut park attendance by 35 percent.
Exactly. The lines are atrocious.
There is a Grand Canyon difference between "resigning tomorrow" and a succession planning process that has been in the works for over 3 years.
I think he did a good job coming back in and stabilizing Disney. I do think Disney needs someone to come in and help create new properties. I don't think they've created their own hit since Frozen (I think they bought every other major franchise for the past 20 years). Regardless, Disney was a mess five years ago, and Iger came in and seemed to straighten things up. Time for someone new, though.
AustinAg2K said:
I think he did a good job coming back in and stabilizing Disney. I do think Disney needs someone to come in and help create new properties. I don't think they've created their own hit since Frozen (I think they bought every other major franchise for the past 20 years). Regardless, Disney was a mess five years ago, and Iger came in and seemed to straighten things up. Time for someone new, though.
I could see this guy pushing for a "Night at the Museum" type of movie franchise that takes place in their theme park!
I wonder how much influence the new guy has at the park as far as design.. From a financial standpoint, he obviously knows what he's doing. The parks are cash cows. However, after doing Disney the last couple of days and then going the new Epic Universe park today, Disney parks have to step up their game big time or they are going to start losing out. The new Star Wars is good, but is too focused on the new trilogy. There are good rides other places, but wow, Epic Universe is on another level. Disney needs to steal away whoever designed this place.
What puts it on another level?
The creativity, scale, and attention to detail. The Donkey Kong ride is the Indiana Jones ride Disney has never been able to figure out. It's a runaway train coaster that jumps the tracks. The Mario Kart ride is just ok, but the rest of the Mushroom Kingdom is just insane. To be a seven year old here, running around, hitting question blocks, jumping on mushrooms, would be amazing. Harry Potter World had always been the standard bearer, but the new one makes the ones at regular universal studios seem out dated. It's a brand new story, too, which shows good creativity. I haven't yet made it to the Monster Land, but my expectations are sky high at this point.
AustinAg2K said:
I wonder how much influence the new guy has at the park as far as design.. From a financial standpoint, he obviously knows what he's doing. The parks are cash cows. However, after doing Disney the last couple of days and then going the new Epic Universe park today, Disney parks have to step up their game big time or they are going to start losing out. The new Star Wars is good, but is too focused on the new trilogy. There are good rides other places, but wow, Epic Universe is on another level. Disney needs to steal away whoever designed this place.
They actually announced fairly recently that the OT is coming to Galaxy's Edge, notably Luke and R2. And the Falcon ride is taking on a Mandalorian/Gorgu theme in a month where the "Engineer" position, which is where you put your grandparents and lame kids who don't like Star Wars, now get to "talk to Grogu" during the mission.
CharleyKerfeld said:AustinAg2K said:
I wonder how much influence the new guy has at the park as far as design.. From a financial standpoint, he obviously knows what he's doing. The parks are cash cows. However, after doing Disney the last couple of days and then going the new Epic Universe park today, Disney parks have to step up their game big time or they are going to start losing out. The new Star Wars is good, but is too focused on the new trilogy. There are good rides other places, but wow, Epic Universe is on another level. Disney needs to steal away whoever designed this place.
They actually announced fairly recently that the OT is coming to Galaxy's Edge, notably Luke and R2. And the Falcon ride is taking on a Mandalorian/Gorgu theme in a month where the "Engineer" position, which is where you put your grandparents and lame kids who don't like Star Wars, now get to "talk to Grogu" during the mission.
So, just going to argue with him to put back the damn knob.
Iger's tenure will mostly be remembered for his mega-mergers.
Creatively, Disney atrophied under his watch, both in Parks and at the studio.
Creatively, Disney atrophied under his watch, both in Parks and at the studio.
we took our two in february, 6 and 9. We discussed the stroller and quickly shot it down. They walked for two park days, a "rest day" that was still 15k steps and two more park days. They shed tears exactly once. When was that? as we left Magic Kingdom the final time at 9:30 pm after showing up to studios at 8AM. They cried because it was time to come home. Kids can do it but there are so many that are coddled.
I did laugh the first evening we were in line for the bus back to resort. We did Animal Kingdom from 9- 2 then Magic Kingdom until about 7. We arrived the night before at midnight after school all day. My eldest looks me dead in the eyes and says, "I bet her feet arent tired" as person on a scooter rides onto the bus first. I about died because she is the kindest kid I know.
I did laugh the first evening we were in line for the bus back to resort. We did Animal Kingdom from 9- 2 then Magic Kingdom until about 7. We arrived the night before at midnight after school all day. My eldest looks me dead in the eyes and says, "I bet her feet arent tired" as person on a scooter rides onto the bus first. I about died because she is the kindest kid I know.
And criminally expensiveSea Speed said:Milwaukees Best Light said:Sea Speed said:
If he bans fat people on scooters and childless couples I would gladly take my family back at the earliest opportunity.
Good way to cut park attendance by 35 percent.
Exactly. The lines are atrocious.
If anyone wants to understand Disney, here's how you do it.
The Parks make 2/3 of the money, the Entertainment makes about 50% of that, but feeds the Parks, and there is a shtshow under that.
Dana Walden is a smart creative executive. Less "merger" focused and more creative talent focused. If she and Josh can figure out how to feed off that, together…
The Parks make 2/3 of the money, the Entertainment makes about 50% of that, but feeds the Parks, and there is a shtshow under that.
Dana Walden is a smart creative executive. Less "merger" focused and more creative talent focused. If she and Josh can figure out how to feed off that, together…
"India joint venture" sounds like an idea that someone should have gotten fired for.
You don't think think there is money to be made from India?
If you don't, your personal financial documents probably reflect as much.
If you don't, your personal financial documents probably reflect as much.
Rigs said:
You don't think think there is money to be made from India?
If you don't, your personal financial documents probably reflect as much.
Wow, what an a-hole response.
You don't think there's money to be made from a joint venture between Disney and India?
Rigs said:
You don't think there's money to be made from a joint venture between Disney and India?
I didn't say that at all. I certainly don't think it was worthy of a shot at my personal finances.
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