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Josh D’Amaro Says Epic Universe Is No Threat—And That’s No Fantasy
It’s not every day that your biggest competitor drops an entirely new theme park practically in your backyard—but if you’re Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro, you don’t flinch, you dream bigger. Speaking at the MoffettNathanson Media, Internet & Communications Conference, D’Amaro brushed off concerns about Universal Orlando’s shiny new toy, Epic Universe, and even suggested it could help Walt Disney World, according to reporting by Variety.
“If something is built new in Central Florida, like Epic Universe,” he said, “that tourist is going to have to visit the Magic Kingdom.” In other words: more parks, more problems—for Universal. D’Amaro positioned Disney as always being on the offensive, investing long-term in every corner of its global portfolio.
Related: Live Q&A with Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro at JP Morgan Conference Next Week
Epic Universe officially opens May 22, 2025, featuring five fully immersive lands including Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. It’s big. It’s bold. But D’Amaro isn’t sweating it.
Why? Because Disney’s playing a longer game—and a much larger one.
Big Dreams, Bigger Budgets
Disney’s already committed to a $60 billion investment into its Experiences division over the next decade. That’s nearly double what it spent the previous 10 years. According to D’Amaro, Disney is just getting started when it comes to storytelling in the parks: “We’ve only scratched the surface… there’s no Black Panther attraction, there’s no Coco attraction.”
The implication is clear: the vault of Disney stories remains wide open, and the Imagineers have their hard hats on.
Welcome to Abu Dhabi
As Universal’s Epic Universe prepares to take off in Florida, Disney is looking east—very east. Just last week, Disney announced it would open a brand-new theme park in Abu Dhabi, marking the company’s seventh theme park resort destination.
“This is a crossroads for the world,” D’Amaro said, noting that one-third of the global population lives within a four-hour flight of Abu Dhabi. The new resort, located on Yas Island, promises to be Disney’s “most advanced and interactive destination” yet. The project is being developed in partnership with Miral, who’s funding the buildout while Disney retains creative control.
Although no opening date has been announced, the scale and ambition of the project are clear. The Abu Dhabi park is poised to blend Disney magic with the UAE’s coastal culture and cutting-edge architecture.
Related: Maleficent Annual Passholder Magnet Now Available at Disney World
Follow the Leader?
D’Amaro’s commanding presence at the conference—and his track record of success—has led many to speculate that he may be next in line for the CEO throne. With Bob Iger’s contract set to expire at the end of 2026, the board is expected to announce a successor early next year. D’Amaro, who’s been with the company since 1998 and has led both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, is high on the shortlist.
In short: while Epic Universe is prepping for launch, Disney is focused on expanding the galaxy. And whether it’s boosting local tourism or building global hubs, D’Amaro is steering the ship toward some seriously star-studded horizons.
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