We got some huge news from The Walt Disney Company this week. Not only did we get to see how the company did financially in the first quarter of 2026, but Disney also announced CEO Bob Iger’s successor, Josh D’Amaro, who is currently Disney’s Chairman of Disney Experiences.
D’Amaro will officially become Disney’s CEO on March 18th, 2026. However, he has some big challenges to face as the company’s next leader. Let’s talk about two of those.
Movies are struggling
Although Disney was the box office winner this year with hits like Zootopia 2 and the live-action Lilo & Stitch, some of the company’s other movies struggled at the box office, including the live-action Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Elio, and Tron: Ares. Movies are very expensive to make, and if they don’t do well at the box office, that’s money down the drain for the studio.
It’s not just Disney, though. The movie industry as a whole has not yet bounced back from the pandemic, and streaming has changed the way many people prefer to watch films, with many preferring to skip the $20 per person ticket price (and the high cost of concessions) to watch a movie at home when it lands on streaming. D’Amaro, along with Disney’s new President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden, will have some tough decisions to make about Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel films.
The high cost of visiting the parks
Fans of Disney Parks know that the cost of going to the parks keeps going up by leaps and bounds, and many fans have already expressed their frustrations about the increasing costs. We recently took to Facebook to ask fans about the biggest red flag at Disney World, and many of our readers mentioned the prices.
According to Jill, “Less perks and more expensive.” That’s a complaint we often see, especially with Disney getting rid of things like free FastPass and Magical Express. Our reader, Tish, said much of the same: “people getting tired of paying more for less (fewer perks, services, reasons to stay on site), while Dale commented: “Price… way too much for middle and lower class families to come.”
A big challenge for Disney’s next CEO might be to calm the fears of those fans who feel they’re being priced out of the parks. We’ve already seen some pretty big deals and discounts announced for this year, which could be a growing trend for a while. Price becomes less of a factor if you can get two free hotel nights and park day tickets just for visiting for four days.
However, we think the CEO might want to consider adding value to Disney vacations. We don’t expect free FastPass and Magical Express to return, but other perks might be offered to guests staying at Disney World hotels. Another way that value will be added to the parks is by adding more to the parks, which is something Disney World and Disneyland are both actively doing right now. Both resorts are getting new lands, rides, expansions, and more.
Becoming a CEO for one of the largest companies in the world will be daunting, but it seems Disney is confident it has put the reins in the hands of the right person.
We’ll keep you updated on ALL Disney news, so check back with AllEars again soon for more.
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What do you think D’Amaro’s biggest challenge will be as Disney’s CEO? Let us know in the comments!
Prices! The intent of Walt was for families to have a place to go and enjoy together. Prices are prohibitive. Are Disney executives not making enough money? Ugh!
STOP MAKING LIVE ACTION REMAKES!!! And if you’re going to make a sequel, make darn sure it advances the story.