Disney's New Parks Chief Puts Superfans at Center of $60B Investment Strategy

Thomas Mazloum, chairman of Disney Experiences, told a crowd of 12,000 fans that Disney is "bringing the yeti back to life" during the division's showcase in Anaheim, California. The repair applies to the Expedition Everest attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Since 2006, the ride's Yeti figure has been stationary after breaking just months after its debut, and it has been known affectionately as "Disco Yeti" because of the strobe-light effect used to suggest movement. Mazloum also announced the return of fan-favorite characters Dreamfinder and Figment to EPCOT and an overhaul of Tomorrowland in California.

The announcements signal a focus on Disney's most loyal attendees and biggest spenders as the company navigates macroeconomic uncertainty and shifting travel trends. Mazloum told CNBC that items like the Yeti and Figment "mean a lot to people because they grew up with these stories," calling them "small, immediate, but meaningful." He said his tenure will balance massive expansion projects—new lands and area overhauls based on popular intellectual property—designed to attract less frequent visitors with updates that annual passholders and regular attendees want.

Mazloum said the strategy is already paying off. In Disney's fiscal third-quarter earnings report, the experiences division posted nearly $10 billion in revenue, a 10% jump year-over-year and a quarterly record. While rival Comcast reported lagging theme park attendance in late July, Disney's domestic park attendance rose 3% and guest spending increased 4% during the quarter. Disney attributed the gains partly to its Cool Kids Summer promotion, which added character meet-and-greets, dance parties and free water park admission for hotel guests.

Disney has recently refreshed attractions such as Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Muppets-themed Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. Upcoming work includes a refurbishment of the Carousel of Progress set to finish in late spring 2027, and a Monsters, Inc.-themed Monstropolis land also planned for 2027. Longer-term projects include an Avengers Campus expansion, a new Villains Land, a rethemed Frontierland featuring Cars, and the Tropical Americas land.

CNBC reported the remarks and details from the D23 showcase, where Mazloum emphasized putting "fans and the consumer and the guest into the center of our decision-making."