“Deserted Main Street at the California theme park stood eerily silent, devoid of the familiar melodies serenaded by the famed barbershop quartet, the Dapper Dans. The absence of the rhythmic clanging of the railroad bell only added to the surreal atmosphere, while the once-inviting aroma of freshly baked waffle cones from the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor lingered as a distant memory, lost amidst the stillness of the empty thoroughfare.”
“After more than a year of closure due to the Covid pandemic, Disney’s domestic parks remained shuttered. However, D’Amaro, chair of Disney’s experiences division, exuded confidence in the eventual return of guests once the gates reopened.His foresight proved accurate. Despite the prolonged closure, D’Amaro’s division emerged as Disney’s top-performing segment, showcasing resilience and stability in recent quarters. This success comes as Disney navigates the evolving landscape of consumer habits, adapting its entertainment business to align with the shifts brought on by the pandemic.”
“On that tranquil day in 2021, D’Amaro found himself at the helm of the parks, experiences, and consumer products division, now streamlined to just “experiences,” for just over a year. His ascension came as Bob Chapek assumed the role of CEO in early 2020. In his tenure, D’Amaro grappled with significant operational setbacks, including hefty losses from worldwide park closures, idled cruise ships, and a sharp decline in hotel occupancy rates.”
“Revenues for the experiences division plummeted by 35% in 2020, marking a staggering nearly $10 billion decline from the $26.2 billion recorded in the pre-pandemic year. Despite hopes for recovery, revenue continued its downward trend, experiencing an additional 3% drop in 2021.”
Three years later, seated in a conference room in Burbank, just a stone’s throw from Disneyland and the bustling hub of Disney’s theme park innovation hub, Walt Disney Imagineering, D’Amaro has ample reason to boast.” In November, the enchanting ‘World of Frozen’ debuted at Hong Kong Disneyland, followed by the unveiling of a vibrant ‘Zootopia’ land at Shanghai Disneyland in December. Meanwhile, across the globe, Walt Disney World in Florida delighted visitors with two exhilarating new rides: a ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ themed attraction at Epcot park in 2022, and a thrilling ‘Tron’ themed roller coaster at the Magic Kingdom in April 2023.”
