For the last five years Michael Colglazier has been the President of the Disneyland Resort working to make the park and it’s 30,000 cast members they most successful it could be. Among his big roles were overseeing the park’s 60th anniversary Diamond Celebration and the transition of Disney’s California Adventure to include the resort’s first big Marvel attraction (Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout) and adjustment of the park’s theming (adding Pixar to Paradise Pier for one). The resort has seen record business performance and growth in the last five years, so he’s doing something right.
In his new role, as president and managing director of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ Asia Pacific Operation, the 28-year Disney veteran will be responsible for overseeing the company’s parks and resorts operations and development throughout Asia, including Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Tokyo Disneyland Resort with the Oriental Land Company and Shanghai Disney Resort.
“It has been an incredible privilege to lead Walt Disney’s original park for the past five years and to drive his legacy of innovation, quality and storytelling alongside my fellow cast members,” Colglazier said. “Being part of the Disneyland Resort community has been a wonderful source of joy for me and my family. I am tremendously excited to join our teams in Asia, where our growth opportunities are diverse and endless.”
On March 5th, Josh D’Amaro will move from his role of senior vice president at Walt Disney World where he oversaw marketing strategy, sales and business development, to become president of the Disneyland Resort. D’Amaro began his Disney career in 1998 as a senior business planner at the Disneyland Resort. Over the course of his eight years at Disneyland, D’Amaro held several leadership positions with increased responsibilities in operations, business planning, finance, sales and marketing.
“I am incredibly excited to be returning to the place where I began my Disney career nearly 20 years ago,” D’Amaro said. “I look forward to working closely with my fellow cast members, overseeing the Disneyland Resort during such an exciting period of growth, and once again becoming a member of the Orange County community.”
Prior to his role at Walt Disney World, D’Amaro served as senior vice president, Resorts and Transportation from 2014 to 2017, where he was responsible for the operation of Walt Disney World’s 26 resort hotels and the resort-wide transportation system. In addition, D’Amaro served as vice president of Animal Kingdom Park from 2012 to 2014, during a time when the park was undergoing the largest expansion in its history. D’Amaro also has held sales and marketing positions with Adventures by Disney as well as with Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. From 2008 to 2010, D’Amaro served as vice president, finance, Global Licensing for Disney’s Consumer Products Division.
The next five years for the Disneyland Resort will bring the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a new Luxury Hotel, and the start of a potential Marvel-land at Disney’s California Adventure. Beyond that the resort needs to start looking at its future footprint and securing the land it will need for a third gate, plus continue to expand and update its existing rides, shows, and park and resort infrastructure to stay ahead of the in hospitality trends. Not an easy challenge for anyone. We wish D’Amaro and Colglazier luck in their new roles.