Disney Experiences
Disney Experiences,[a] commonly known as Disney Parks, is one of the three major divisions of The Walt Disney Company.[4][2] It was founded on April 1, 1971, exactly six months before the opening of Walt Disney World.
Formerly
- Walt Disney Outdoor Recreation (1980–1989)
- Walt Disney Attractions (1989–2008)
- Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide (2008–2018)
- Walt Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products (2018)
- Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (2018–2023)
April 1, 1971
Worldwide
Led by Josh D'Amaro, the company's theme parks hosted over 157.3 million guests, making Disney Parks the world's most visited theme park company worldwide,[5] with United Kingdom-based Merlin Entertainments coming in second at 67 million guests. It is Disney's largest business segment by employee headcount, with approximately 130,000[6] of the company's 180,000 employees as of 2015.[7] In March 2018, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media was merged into Parks and Resorts and renamed Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. In September 2020, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products laid off 28,000 employees in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]
Training[edit]
Each new employee ("cast member") at a Disney theme park is trained at a Disney University, founded by Walt Disney in 1955. Before training specific to the work they will perform, each employee attends the "Disney Traditions" course where they learn about the philosophies and history of Disney's guest services.[104][105]
Formerly
Disney Sports Attractions
Sports
Rosalyn Durant (SVP, operations for Disney Springs, ESPN Wide World of Sports and Waterparks)
Faron Kelley (vice president, sports)
road race
sports events
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
Other ventures[edit]
Disney Signature Experiences[edit]
The Disney Signature Experiences division, which was formerly known as the Disney Cruise Line & New Vacation Operations, holds newer non-theme park travel units under president Thomas Mazloum.[94]
In February 2009, Tom McAlpin left the Disney Cruise Line presidency and was replaced by Karl Holz as president of both Disney Cruise Line and New Vacation Operations. New Vacation Operations included the Adventures by Disney.[149] The cruise line ordered three ships of a new class of ship, Triton, in 2016 and 2017.[150] In April 2017, it was announced that Karl Holz would retire as president of Disney Cruise Line on February 15, 2018 and Anthony Connelly would assumed the role of president on October 1, 2017.[151]
Soon after a March 2018 conglomerate wide reorganization that formed Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment division, Disney Cruise Line and New Vacation Operations was renamed Disney Signature Experiences along with a new president, Jeff Vahle.[83] Ken Potrock was promoted from Senior Vice President and General Manager of Disney Vacation Club to President of Consumer Products in May 2018.[152][153] Disney Cruise Line purchased in early March 2019 another Bahamas destination, Lighthouse Point property on the island of Eleuthera from the Bahamas Government.[85]
With the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by August 2019, National Geographic Partners' National Geographic Expeditions moved into Disney Signature Experiences.[88]