Overview
- Josh D’Amaro used his first D23 as CEO to lay out a clear strategy built on three pillars: best‑in‑class storytelling, marrying technology with media, and operating as a single, coordinated company.
- D23 showcased concrete international growth plans for Disney Cruise Line, including the Asia homeporting of Disney Adventure in Singapore, a Japan‑based ship planned for 2029 with Oriental Land Co., and a new mid‑sized ship class for more varied destinations.
- D’Amaro and company materials emphasized technology and youth engagement through moves into gaming and reported experiments linking platforms such as TikTok with Disney+ to reach younger audiences, which outlets described as a strategic push rather than a finalized product roll‑out.
- The company confirmed recent leadership shifts that support the plan, naming Dana Walden president and Thomas Mazloum chairman of Disney Experiences, while also continuing workforce reductions tied to the earlier restructuring.
- D23 closed with D’Amaro thanking fans for the turnout and energy, and the event underscored a broader push—originating under Bob Iger’s international expansion drive—to use parks, cruises and streaming together to find new global audiences.