Updated
Updated · TheWrap · Aug 17
Disney Unveils Fan-Focused Park Fixes at D23 as D'Amaro Pushes One Disney Strategy
Updated
Updated · TheWrap · Aug 17

Disney Unveils Fan-Focused Park Fixes at D23 as D'Amaro Pushes One Disney Strategy

3 articles · Updated · TheWrap · Aug 17

Summary

  • Disney used D23 to spotlight fan-pleasing park upgrades that had long been demanded, including a Tomorrowland reimagining, an EPCOT Imagination Pavilion redo and a fix for Expedition Everest's broken yeti.
  • Josh D'Amaro framed the moves as part of a unified "One Disney" strategy centered on Disney+, while signaling that rebuilding trust with core fans matters after price hikes, perk cuts and layoffs.
  • 14,000-seat Honda Center presentations also mixed franchise expansion with nostalgia, from sequels such as "Coco 2" and "Incredibles 3" to smaller gestures like reviving the Fuzzball character and restoring Disneyland Paris' Space Mountain.
  • The fan-first emphasis comes as Disney leans harder on Experiences, which delivered 40% of third-quarter revenue and 54% of operating profit; parks and cruise revenue rose 10%, attendance 4%, and domestic hotel occupancy reached 91%.

Insights

With unprecedented construction underway, is Disneyland sacrificing its classic 1955 charm for a mega-franchise future?
What hidden interactive details in the new Coco and Avatar expansions will completely redefine theme park storytelling?
How will Disney's massive push into video games secretly dictate your next physical trip to Disneyland?