The Disneyland Resort is getting a new president. After it was announced that current Disneyland Resort President Thomas Mazloum is being promoted to the role of Chairman of Disney Experiences, it was announced that Jill Estorino will be coming to lead The Happiest Place on Earth! She will take on this role on March 18th, the same day that Josh D’Amaro will become the CEO of Disney and Thomas Mazloum will also take on his new role.
“Jill is a remarkable leader who deeply understands what makes Disneyland special,” said D’Amaro when the announcement was made. “She leads with heart, holds incredibly high standards, and believes that great guest experiences begin with inspired cast members. Jill brings a global perspective shaped by strong collaboration with international business, community and government leaders while guiding significant, strategic investments for long-term global growth. Jill is uniquely suited to carry Walt Disney’s legacy forward while building what’s next for this special destination.”
Estorino comes to the Disneyland Resort from her current role as the President and Managing Director of Disney Parks International. This role has her overseeing Disney’s theme parks and resorts throughout both Europe and Asia. This comes during a pivotal and exciting time for Disney. Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disney Resort, and Tokyo Disney Resort have all seen significant growth during her tenure and leadership. She will be returning to Anaheim, where she has previously been stationed. Previously, she spent six years in Anaheim in a senior leadership role for Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World marketing teams.
“Disneyland is where Walt’s dream began, and it has always represented the very best of what Disney can be,” said Estorino. “I am honored to lead this incredibly special resort, deepen our longstanding commitment to the community and support our cast members as we care for its rich legacy and continue to create new, innovative experiences that resonate with today’s guests and generations to come.”
Estorino has been with Disney for over 35 years. During this time, she has held multiple leadership roles. Some of these include Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Asia Pacific and Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and Sales for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. In this position, she played a key role in the grand opening of Shanghai Disney Resort.
As she enters this new role, Estorino is recognized as a trusted brand steward who has a deep respect for Walt Disney’s original vision. This is a vision that is based on storytelling, innovation, and an unwavering focus on the guest experience. Her new role will see her leading the park that Walt Disney walked in as it moves into a new chapter that kicked off with the approval of DisneylandForward by the city of Anaheim. She will honor the heritage of the park and resort while also continuing to elevate experiences that reflect today’s bold, immersive, and emotionally resonant storytelling.
While at Disney Parks International, Estorino was instrumental in a variety of transformative and ambitious projects that have greatly expanded Disney’s global footprint. These projects also helped deepen the emotional connection that is felt between the guests and the House of Mouse. These projects include the openings of World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland, Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort, Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea, and a multiyear transformation of Disneyland Paris. This will see the opening of World of Frozen and Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris later this month. Throughout these efforts, Estorino was known to champion innovative storytelling without compromising. She always ensured that growth was anchored in quality and brand integrity.
Estorino comes to the Disneyland Resort during a period of change. The Disneyland Resort is pivoting from recovering and reopening after the pandemic to a period of growth and innovation. This has been defined with a focus on hospitality that helps reinforce the priorities of keeping current guests happy, reaching new guests, and also a focus on cast member care. These priorities were highlighted during Mazloum’s leadership of the Disneyland Resort. The “Mazloum era” at the Disneyland Resort has also been defined by the principles of Quality, Simplicity, and Trust.
As Jill Estorino takes over leadership of the Disneyland Resort, there will be plenty more changes to come. This will include the new Eastern Gateway parking lot and arrival experience, a new attraction based on Pixar’s Coco, and an attraction based on Disney Legend James Cameron’s Avatar franchise. Estorino will see the continued growth of the Disneyland Resort through these projects while also leading the Resort’s 36,000 Cast Members with its two parks, hotels, and Downtown Disney District. This will be an exciting era of growth and possibility.
Please join Daps Magic in wishing Jill Estorino the best in this new endeavor! We look forward to seeing her in the parks!
