Disney Parks’ Josh D’Amaro: Honor Legacy; Be Relevant Today
According to IAAPA, Disney Parks’ Josh D’Amaro is supercharged …
With the world itself reopening as the COVID-10 pandemic comes under greater control, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Josh D’Amaro might be excused if he remained satisfied to open the theme parks under the tried and true auspices of company tradition.
Photo: @joshdamaro
But, to Disney’s credit — and certainly thanks to his leadership — under D’Amaro, the Disney Parks reopened with both proverbial eyes looking to the future.
Recently, in an article from The Global Association for the Attractions Industry’s “Fun World,” D’Amaro spoke about the circumstances of the Disney Parks’ reopening in 2021; a new “Fifth Key” utilized by Cast Members.
Image: Disney
A Sense of Responsibility
Firstly: The world closed. And Josh gained a promotion.
Photo: Orlando Sentinel
“I was humbled by the situation I found myself in. Given where we were, I felt an immediate and massive sense of responsibility to be sitting in this role, for a place that I cared so much about, with so many cast members who were looking for guidance,” said D’Amaro to IAAPA’s Scott Fais.
I think this pandemic has brought us together even more closely as a family. I think we understand even more now the importance of what we represent to the world.”
Moreover, with representation in mind, D’Amaro also explained the reasoning behind the new “Key,” added to safety, courtesy, show, and efficiency, inclusion.
Inclusion is Key
Secondly: Some told D’Amaro he couldn’t mess with the four keys.
Photo: Josh D’Amaro on Instagram
“Yes, we absolutely can. I will pay tribute to our founder, to our legacy, but I will also at the same time push us to be relevant today,” he explained. “To add an inclusion key is so powerful.”
Why?
D’Amaro told Fais:
Image Credit: Disney
“We will continue to not only look at the experiences that we have today, update them, and make them relevant and appropriate, but as we build, we will also start to think about all the great stories that we have to tell around the world and bring them to life in a way that everybody again can see themselves…”
Finally, the whole think piece is fascinating. Check it out here.
Photo: Josh D’Amaro on Instagram
Feature Image: Disney
