Katelyn Mathis 
Katelyn takes a look at the first one hundred days of Josh D’Amaro’s reign as Disney’s CEO. Has the start of his tenure been a success?
When Josh D’Amaro became Disney’s CEO, Disney fans had one big question: How long would it take before we started seeing changes? After all, D’Amaro wasn’t coming from Wall Street or the movie business. He came from Disney Experiences, where he earned a reputation as one of the company’s most well-liked executives. Many hoped that would translate into a fresh approach to the parks—and maybe even some long-awaited changes guests have been asking for.
Now that he’s reached his first 100 days, we have a better picture of where his focus has been. The short answer? He’s been busy changing Disney from the inside out.
It’s Been Less About the Parks…
If you were expecting lower ticket prices, a major overhaul of Lightning Lane, or sweeping changes to park operations, those haven’t happened, at least not yet. Instead, D’Amaro has spent much of his first three months reorganizing the company itself.
Disney has streamlined departments, reduced layers of management, and shifted more decision-making back to creative teams. It’s all part of an effort to make Disney move faster, something any Star Wars fan has argued the company has struggled with in recent years.  Unfortunately, those changes have also included another round of corporate layoffs, affecting around 1,000 employees. It’s a difficult reality, but one Disney says is part of making the company more efficient. It’s also worth noting that those layoffs were well in the works before D’Amaro took over. Iger was the one who structured the layoffs, leaving D’Amaro to announce them.
We are also on the cusp of Level99’s opening at Disney Springs. The interactive entertainment venue features more than 50 physical and mental challenge rooms. Â It’s the largest Level99 location to date, complete with cooperative and competitive games, a two-story bar, and a full menu of made-from-scratch food and drinks. Again, Level99 wasn’t D’Amaro’s doing, but you can be sure he will figure Level99 into the Disney Experience, especially as an adult-only venue.
Disney+ Is Becoming the Center of Everything
One thing has become very clear under D’Amaro: Disney+ is no longer just a streaming service. Instead, he sees it as the starting point for the entire Disney experience. Watch a Marvel movie? Maybe that inspires your next trip to Avengers Campus. Become hooked on a Star Wars series? That could lead to buying merchandise, playing a game, booking a Disney Cruise, or planning a vacation to Galaxy’s Edge. Rather than thinking of Disney’s businesses as separate pieces, D’Amaro appears to be connecting them into one larger ecosystem.
Interactive Entertainment Is Getting More Attention
Another interesting shift is Disney’s growing emphasis on interactive entertainment. Movies and TV aren’t going anywhere, but D’Amaro has made it clear that gaming and immersive experiences are becoming a much bigger priority. That makes sense when you look at how younger audiences spend their time. They’re not just watching stories anymore—they want to jump into them. Expect Disney to continue exploring ways for fans to do exactly that.
ESPN Isn’t Going Anywhere
For years, rumors have swirled that Disney might eventually sell ESPN. D’Amaro doesn’t seem interested in that idea. Instead, he’s positioned ESPN as a key part of Disney’s future, arguing that live sports help attract subscribers and keep people engaged with Disney year-round. Whether you’re watching football on Saturday or a Pixar movie on Sunday, the goal is to keep you inside the Disney ecosystem.
A CEO Who Likes Being on the Ground
One thing longtime Disney fans probably won’t find surprising is how much D’Amaro has been traveling. Instead of staying behind a desk, he’s visited Disney teams around the world, including Pixar, ESPN, and Shanghai Disneyland. That hands-on leadership style was appreciated by many employees when he led Disney Experiences, and it appears he’s bringing the same approach to the CEO role.
So…Has Anything Changed for Guests?
Not really. Most of the attractions currently under construction were announced before D’Amaro became CEO. Ticket prices haven’t changed much. Lightning Lane remains largely the same. Annual Pass programs haven’t been overhauled. And MagicBands are slowly becoming an expense that guests aren’t willing to invest in. If you’re visiting the parks today, your experience probably doesn’t feel much different from 100 days ago. But that doesn’t necessarily mean nothing is happening. Many CEOs spend their first months laying the groundwork before rolling out larger changes. We hope that’s exactly what D’Amaro is doing.
The Bottom Line
One hundred days isn’t enough time to completely reshape a company as massive as Disney. Still, a few themes are already becoming clear. D’Amaro wants Disney to move faster. He wants creative teams to have more freedom. He believes Disney+, gaming, parks, cruises, movies, and ESPN should work together rather than operate as separate businesses. Whether those ideas translate into better guest experiences remains to be seen. For now, Disney fans may not notice a dramatic difference walking through the gates of the parks—but behind the scenes, the company is clearly entering a new chapter. The next 100 days may be when those internal changes begin showing up in ways guests can actually see.
Has Josh D’Amaro’s reign as Disney’s CEO started as well as we hoped? Drop a comment in the chat below.
Katelyn Mathis is a Senior Staff Writer for The Future of the Force. She is a passionate Star Wars fan and is the go-to source for Force Knowledge. Follow her on Twitter where she uses the force frequently!
