Disney Experiences: Changes at Senior Leadership Level

(eap) To guide the global transformative growth of Disney Experiences, Disney’s experiences division, through its next phase, Thomas Mazloum, Chairman of the parks and experiences division, yesterday announced a series of changes at senior leadership level: Joe Schott will take over the position of President of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Natacha Rafalski will become President of Disney Signature Experiences, and Christophe Murphy will succeed her in her previous role as the new President of Disneyland Paris.

Joe Schott succeeds Jeff Vahle, who is retiring after 36 years with the company. With its four theme parks, two water parks, numerous hotels and further offerings, Walt Disney World Resort is the world’s most visited leisure resort and, with around 80,000 cast members, the largest single-site employer in the United States. It is currently undergoing a significant period of investment: the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom Park – comprising the two upcoming new themed lands “Villains Land” and “Piston Peak” – is currently underway; in addition, new themed lands are in development at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Schott is one of Disney’s most experienced operational managers and has more than 40 years of leadership experience at Disney destinations around the world. Most recently, he served as President of Disney Signature Experiences, where he was responsible for the commissioning of two new ships, the Disney Destiny and the Disney Adventure. Prior to that, Schott led Shanghai Disney Resort as President and General Manager. Before his time in Shanghai, Schott spent five years as Chief Operating Officer of Disneyland Paris and previously served as Executive Managing Director of Walt Disney Attractions Japan.

Natacha Rafalski, who has worked for Disney for 30 years, will become President of Disney Signature Experiences – the Disney Experiences division that includes, among others, Disney Cruise Line and Disney Vacation Club. In her new role, Rafalski will guide the next phase of Disney Cruise Line’s historic fleet expansion: from eight ships today to 13 ships by 2031.

As President of Disneyland Paris since 2018, Rafalski drove forward the two-billion-euro transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park into Disney Adventure World (cf. EAP 3/2026). Rafalski also played a key role in the development of Shanghai Disney Resort and negotiated one of the most consequential theme park development agreements in the company’s history, before serving as Chief Financial Officer of The Walt Disney Company Greater China from 2013 to 2017.

Christophe Murphy will take over as President of Disneyland Paris. The resort is now entering a further chapter of growth, which includes the development of a “The Lion King”-themed land. Murphy is an experienced operational leader and has worked for The Walt Disney Company for more than 35 years. His professional positions have included both the theme parks themselves as well as the areas of entertainment, merchandise, hotels, F&B and franchise integration.

Schott, Rafalski and Murphy will assume their new positions by the end of July this year. ■