Heir Apparent: Disney Fans Are Furious Josh D’Amaro Appears To Be Next in Line

Last week, Disney announced that Chairman of Parks and Experience Josh D’Amaro would replace Bob Iger as the company’s representative at this year’s MoffettNathanson Conference. The conference brings together leaders and executives in media, communication, and internet companies to showcase their companies’ futures.

While in most years, D’Amaro replacing Iger would not seem like a big deal, with The Walt Disney Company searching for a new CEO, every move the company makes is being scrutinized, and fans are unhappy that D’Amaro is being highlighted. Fans also see this showcase as a test run to see if D’Amaro can handle the big chair.

Disney fans have a love/hate relationship with Josh D’Amaro. While he has brought innovations to the parks, fans also see D’Amaro as responsible for some of the company’s most controversial decisions.

D’Amaro took over for Bob Chapek in May 2020, shortly after Chapek was named Disney’s new CEO. Chapek’s tenure was short, marked by poor decisions and a loss of creativity.

While Chapek takes most of the flack for the decisions made during his tenure, D’Amaro was in charge of the parks when those decisions were made, and Disney fans haven’t forgotten. Sure, D’Amaro took over during COVID and had to revive the parks after a prolonged closure, but Disney fans haven’t forgotten what they lost.

During his tenure, Disney World removed the Magical Express and free Magic Bands, closed Splash Mountain and replaced it with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and most recently announced that Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island were to close in favor of a Cars Land. The list goes on, but with Chapek no longer around, Disney fans have turned their ire to D’Amaro.

One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

I hope this isn’t a sign that Josh is the heir apparent. I still recall how he chose not to reveal what they planned to do to the MK at D23. Disney needs better than that.

It is not a defeat for Disney fans who don’t want D’Amaro. Former Disney Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy participated in this conference in 2023 instead of Iger, and she’s no longer with the company.

While Disney continues to drag out its search for the next CEO, fans will continue to speculate and hope that it’s not D’Amaro. However, it’s unclear who Disney fans would be happy with taking over for Iger. So, we wait to see what will happen next.

Who would you like to see as the next CEO of The Walt Disney Company? Let us know in the comments.