I Hate to Break It to You, but the New Disney CEO Can't (and Won't) Bring Back These Perks

We know, we know, it’s pretty exciting seeing Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, make the move to becoming the next CEO of the company and taking over after Bob Iger steps down on March 18th. D’Amaro is a parks guy, after all, and we all LOVE Disney Parks.

Magic Kingdom

Well, we know a new CEO could mean BIG changes for the company, including the direction the company takes moving forward with all of its business ventures, including Disney Parks, but y’all, we hate to say this, but we think some Disney fans have some unrealistic expectations of what D’Amaro as Disney’s new CEO can and will do.

When we posted the news to Instagram about Disney’s new CEO, we got a lot of comments from Disney fans who have a lot of big requests for perks to return to the parks. Many of these perks went away in 2020 and have not come back to Disney World since. So many fans mentioned FastPasses, Magical Express, and even DinoLand, U.S.A. There was even a mention of that Ben Solo movie that many Star Wars fans are obsessed with.

No more DinoLand!

But these requests just aren’t realistic. Let’s take a look at free FastPasses. When Disney introduced the paid Genie+ service, which morphed into Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass, it started raking in the $$$ as guests started paying to skip the standby lines in Disney World and Disneyland. Why would a company get rid of something that’s obviously bringing in the dough?

Kilimanjaro Safaris Lightning Lane

Then there’s Magical Express. Don’t get me wrong…I would LOVE to see the return of Magical Express, but Disney fans have been doing fine without it since 2020. The Mears Connect shuttle service is basically the same thing, except now you have to pay Mears for the service. It’s one less headache Disney has to deal with.

Mears Connect at Orlando International Airport

The DinoLand U.S.A. mention, well, Disney has already started on the new land replacing it, Pueblo Esperanza, and there is no way the company would halt construction and rebuild everything it’s already destroyed. So sorry about that, DinoLand fans. We know, we know, Disney fans hate change, although it’s literally what Walt Disney said he wanted for the parks.

DINOSAUR is gone, y’all

However, it’s even more important to point out that D’Amaro was in charge of the parks when all of these changes were made. He approved of getting rid of free FastPasses and charging for the various Lightning Lane services. He also approved of the removal of Magical Express for Disney World hotel guests. He would certainly have approved of the destruction of DinoLand U.S.A. So, all these decisions Disney fans want reversed? Well, it’s likely the guy who approved them isn’t going to change his mind.

Josh D’Amaro at SXSW 2023 ©Disney

But let’s take a look at other things he approved. First, Magic Kingdom is getting a massive expansion AND a new land for the first time in, well, FOREVER. Cars fans on the East Coast will finally get their very own Cars-themed rides, while Villains fans are getting the land they’ve been demanding for YEARS. Three Magic Kingdom rides will even be getting big upgrades.

©Disney

But there’s more: Animation Courtyard is getting an update that takes it back to its Studios roots, while a new Monsters, Inc. land is on the way, featuring a ride that Monsters, Inc. fans have been demanding since the first film came out. Disney’s Animal Kingdom finally got an update to the old “It’s Tough To Be a Bug” show (and yes, it needed it), while the new land replacing DinoLand U.S.A. will be bringing an Encanto ride and an Indiana Jones ride. That’s A LOT.

Pueblo Esperanza model

Even Disneyland is getting some new things, including an expansion to Avengers Campus, an Avatar-themed land, and the first-ever Coco ride. The U.S. parks haven’t seen this kind of attention in a LONG time, and all of this was also done under D’Amaro’s eye while he ruled over just the parks. That means we might see the parks getting even MORE love and attention with the new CEO being so focused on them.

©Disney

And, well, as to The Hunt for Ben Solo movie, I’m not the kind of person who “never says never,” but that film was scrapped, and we rarely see scrapped films brought back from the proverbial dead. Ben Solo is one with the Force now, y’all, and that’s okay. But who knows? Maybe the two new Co-heads of Lucasfilm will bring the Ben Solo movie back from the dead, and D’Amaro will okay it.

We’ll keep an eye out for more Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

“Of course, I feel the weight on my shoulders.” Josh D’Amaro Comments On Becoming Disney’s Next CEO

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